Shane EvansMen’s and women’s cross country has been well under way. Spirits are high, but according to Coach Tom O’Hora, they are “still in rebuilding mode.”
According to O’Hora, the biggest problem for the Lady Cavs has been injuries and sickness.
“We have yet to have our whole team run at the same time,” he said.
Samantha Gerke, a freshman educational studies major, was hurt during the first week of practice and is working to get back in shape for the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championships.
Another freshman, Christiana Taylor, hurt her foot after racing at the Belmont Classic on Sept. 30. Lauren Gambescia, a transfer student from Albright College and the team’s top finisher at the Cedar Crest meet, is also injured but O’Hora had highhopes to have her back for the Cabrini Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 14.
According to Carolyn Roberts, head captain of the women’s team, members of the track team move up to fill the empty positions. It is difficult however.
“It’s hard, because they’re used to short distances and aren’t trained for long distance,” Roberts said.
Despite these hardships, “The Lady Cavs hold their own,” O’Hora said.
According to O’Hora, the men’s team is improving steadily. They hope to hit full stride at the PAC championships. The top two runners for the men are Chris Sweeney and Justin Walsh. Both were All PAC last year.
“They’re very close in races,’ O’Hora said. “They do a good job playing off each other.”
The men are also getting help from senior Zack Furlong, another former All PAC. Dan Giang, last year’s No. 4 runner, has had some injury problems and is improving.
Both the men and women raced at the Dickinson Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7 and finished 15th and 14th out of 27 respectively. The opposition was tough, according to O’Hora, and included teams from Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, New York and New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania.
“Spirits on both teams are the highest they have been in a couple of years,” O’Hora said.
