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The University of
North Alabama men’s and women’s cross country
teams will feature extremely different looks
when the 2007 begins. While the men return all
six lettermen from last year’s team, the women
must replace five runners, including
All-American Emry McKay.
Head cross country
coach Scott Trimble said despite the differences
in experience, the potential is there for both
squads to be successful in the Gulf South
Conference.
“We are going to be
very young, especially on the women’s side,”
said Trimble. “Talent-wise we are very strong,
we just need to get some races under our belts.
As for the men, they key will be coming into the
season in good shape. If the guys worked hard
over the summer like I think they did, we should
have a successful season.”
The five-man roster
on the men’s team features four seniors and a
sophomore. The Lions compiled a 37-55 record in
2006 and finished fifth at the GSC meet last
October. Joseph Bailey, Mason Dye, Zac Piper and
Cain Yarbrough will each be finishing their
collegiate careers in a UNA uniform this fall.
Trimble said the
veteran group will be counted on to be leaders
this fall. “This group of seniors has really
stepped up for us, especially Zac,” said
Trimble. “In his four years, he has never been
late or missed a practice. He has worked himself
into being one of the program’s top
competitors.”
Trimble added that
the rest of the seniors have also put themselves
in position of being successful. “Joseph is a
former walk-on who has come a long way with
strong work habits,” he said. “We are expecting
big things from Mason, who got better as the
season went on last year. Cain also had his best
year last season. He really matured into a good
runner.”
Sophomore Derick
Hallmak is expected to compete for the best race
times on the roster. “Derick could be one of the
best runners to ever come through UNA,” Trimble
said. “He and Zac will be our top two guys this
year.”
While the men’s
team will be loaded with experience, the UNA
women will feature only one senior, and must
deal with the loss of five lettermen from a team
that went 75-39 and finished third in the
conference. With the loss of three-time
All-American Emry McKay, the Lions will look to
be more balanced in 2007.
With a group of two
freshmen, three sophomores, and a junior running
this year, Trimble said the future of the team
is in good shape. “We have a lot of untapped
potential on this roster,” he said. “If the
ladies continue to work hard, good things are
going to happen.”
 The
team’s lone senior Sheena Hall Murphy (right)
and junior transfer Kristin Williams will be
red-shirted this season due to injury, leaving
the role of most experienced runner to junior
Jessica Welborn. “With all of her potential,
Jessi could be the key to our season,” Trimble
said. “She improved tremendously for us last
year, but will need to get even better.”
Jessica Moran
highlights a group of sophomores that represent
a bright future for the Lions. The Fayetteville,
Tenn., native was a second-team All-Gulf South
Conference selection in 2006.
“Jessica will be
the one that has to carry the load for us this
year,” said Trimble. “I am looking for her to be
in the low 18-minute range by the end of the
season.”
Other sophomores
include Vannah Knight and Teresa Hea. “Vannah
had off-season surgery but is now 100 percent,”
Trimble continued. “She ran hurt for us all last
year, and we are now looking for her to have a
breakout season. Teresa comes to us after
playing a year for the UNA soccer team. She
enjoyed it so much she earned a scholarship and
is now with us full time.”
Incoming freshmen
for the Lions include Hannah Mook, from Decherd,
Tenn., and Cullman native Caley Whittemore.
Trimble said both could have a surprise impact
during their first year with the team. “These
two are like diamonds in the rough,” he said.
“They have so much potential. With a little
college-level experience, they are going to be
extremely good cross country runners.”
UNA will once again
face a tough schedule, featuring meets will some
of the top Division II programs in the country.
The Lions will open the season on Sept. 1, in
Sewanee, Tenn., at the University of the South
Invitational.
After consecutive
trips to Huntsville (UAH Charger Invitational)
and Tuscaloosa (Crimson Classic), UNA will host
its own meet on Sept. 29 at Veterans Park in
Florence. The Lions will then run at the Memphis
Twilight meet on Oct. 6 before turning their
attention to the GCS championships on Oct. 20 in
Pensacola, Fla.
The South Regional
championship will be held in Huntsville on Nov.
3, with the NCAA Division II national
championships slated for Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo.
Trimble said many
runners on his roster have experience at the
different locations. “We always go to the UAH
meet, which is a preview of the regional
championships this Year,” he said. “The GSC meet
will also be at the same place the national
championships were held a year ago.
“Sewanee will be
our toughest meet, along with the Crimson
Classic. There are a lot of Division I teams
competing those weekends. Our runners always
think of the Memphis meet as their favorite,
mainly because it is run at night.” |
