Broncos on the run this season
By Justin Phan
The Santa Clara men's and women's cross country teams both came into this season ranked fourth in the West Coast Conference preseason poll, but the Broncos will not let the polls define their expectations.
"When it's all said and done, no one remembers the preseason," Head Coach Tom Service said. "We're looking to write our own version and surprise a lot of people."
Service and Assistant Coach Felipe Montoro are changing their approach to training this season in hopes of improving results when it matters most.
"We're going to take a more long-range approach to a championship season," Service said. "It's all about choosing the right meets and working up to them. It also means keeping people out of some races. We want our team to have the right attitude towards racing at the right time."
The men's team will look to build upon their performance at the 2007 WCC Championships where they finished in third place, only 13 points out of second.
The Bronco men will be vying for a second place finish in the conference behind the University of Portland, who holds the nation's record for longest conference championship streak at 29 years. It is also the longest such streak in any sport in WCC history.
Although the men lost some veteran leadership with Michael Delaurenti and AJ Blumel having graduated, Montoro sees this as a positive challenge for his team.
"This year it's less clear cut as to who the leaders of the team will be, but it will be a good opportunity for guys to step up into those roles," Montoro said.
Sophomore Robbie Reid and senior Chris Gumbs will lead the way for the men's team. Reid already has two top-10 finishes at the University of San Francisco Invitational and West Coast Preview. Gumbs finished seventh at the West Coast Preview.
Service is very optimistic about the women's team and feels confident about the direction in which the team is headed.
"I've never felt better about the leadership on this team," Service said. "We have four seniors who could potentially finish in the top five. They are great role models for the other runners to look up to."
The bulk of the top runners on the women's team are experienced juniors and seniors who are as healthy as ever and are setting lofty goals for themselves this season. They hope to finish second in the conference and in the top 12 at Regionals.
The Bronco women will be led by junior Stephanie Wilson and senior Veronica Vazquez. Wilson finished sixth at the USF Invitational and was joined in the top ten by Vazquez at the Hornet Jamboree. The women finished second in the Jamboree.
"On any given day the women's team has a chance to upset another team," said Service. "I don't think you can put it past them that they won't win the conference."
Contact Justin Phan at jphan1@scu.edu.