With the first competition only six weeks away, the members of the Gustavus men’s cross country are counting down the days until August 19th when athletes will begin pre-season workouts. Four of the top six runners from last year’s squad return for Head Coach Scott Jerome’s team, which is hoping to take a big step forward in 2003.
A year ago the Gusties placed a disappointing ninth at the MIAC Championships for the third year in a row. Two weeks later at the NCAA Regional all seven of the Gustavus athletes posted personal bests, an accomplishment Jerome hopes is a stepping stone toward a successful 2003 campaign.
James Sorenson, a junior from Hastings, Minnesota, was the squad’s top finisher at both the conference (38th) and regional (54th) competitions. He trimmed nearly three and a half minutes off of his 8K time throughout the course of the season.
The first race of the year is the four-mile St. Mary’s University Invite in Winona, Minnesota on August 30 at 10:45 am. One week later the squad will compete in its first 8K competition of the season at the St. John’s University Invite in Collegeville, Minnesota.