Aug. 29, 2007

PITTSBURGH -

The 2007 Pitt cross country team will face their first test this weekend at the Duquesne Duals. The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Schenley Oval. Last season at the Duals, the men's team defended their 2005 crown and the women captured a second-place finish in the team competition. The Panthers are coming off of a successful 2006 season in which runners from both the men's and women's teams competed in the postseason. Sam Bair finished eighth at the NCAA Regional Championships for the men, only two spots away from qualifying for Nationals. On the women's side, Head Coach Alonzo Webb saw many of the underclassmen develop into major contributors, providing strong indications that the future is bright for the Panthers.

Men's Preview

The 2007 edition of the men's cross country team will have some big shoes to fill after graduating six seniors from last year's squad. However, the cupboard is by no means empty, as three of the six returning runners competed in the NCAA Regional Championships last season. Led once again by Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area/Kent State), now a senior and a two-time All-American, the team will look to improve upon their sixth and seventh-place team finishes at the regional and conference championships, respectively.

Joining Bair are fellow seniors Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), Eric Burnett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) and Curtis Larimer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer). Fleming returns this year with something to prove after an injury kept him out for nearly all of the 2006 season. Burnett brings with him an All-Big East honor which he earned as a member of the 3,200 relay team at last year's indoor track championships, while Larimer is eager to get back to the regional championships and better his 2006 time of 32:43.10.

With a year of experience from last season, sophomores Lane King (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) and Kyle Kaminski (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) also return for the Panthers. King qualified for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional meet in his first attempt last season, registering a time of 34:58.20. He also broke into the team's top-five last season at the Pre-National Invitational, placing fourth. Those strong performances have caused King's coaches to take notice and have heightened their expectations of him.

"I expect Lane to be a major part of our team this season," commented Webb. "I look forward to watching him grow and mature, both as a runner and as a person."

Kaminski competed in multiple races last season for the team, placing 22nd at the Duquesne Duals and 44th at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational with times of 27:09.51 and 27:25.00, respectively.

A talented group of incoming freshmen will try to make an immediate impact and Webb is eager to see what they can do.

"We've got a few freshmen coming in this year that can make some serious contributions and really establish themselves right away," said Webb. "I'm excited to see who those runners will be."

Pitt's freshmen include; Joshua Christopher (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford), Ian Johnson (Yeadon, Pa./West Catholic), Eric Kennedy (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary), Nicholas Malenka (Orwigsburg, Pa./Shippensburg), Edward Miller (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon), Jack Morrow (Tulsa, Okla./Holland Hall School), Matt Norwood (Devon, Pa./Devon Prep), Philip Talarico (Oley Valley, Pa./Oley Valley), Aaron Taylor (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga College HS) and Daniel Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Central).

Women's Preview

The women's squad will feature two runners that consistently placed among Pitt's top competitors last season, as well as some talented freshmen looking to make some instant contributions. The core of last year's team returns after losing only two runners, Katelyn Fleishman and Bailey Flask, from last season's squad.

Senior Nikki Bielick (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) was a mainstay in the Panthers top-three and contributed points in every race for the team in 2006. Junior Monica Bhattacharjee (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) was Pitt's lead runner in the first two meets of the season, placing sixth at the season opening Duquesne Duals and clocking in with a mark of 23:31.65 at the Spiked Shoe Invitational. She found herself battling Bielick for top-team honors all season long. These two will have to step into leadership roles again this year if the Panthers are to reach their lofty goals.

"In order for our women to accomplish great things this year," said Webb "we will need the upperclassmen to perform like they are capable and we will need a few of the talented incoming freshmen to step up and solidify our top seven."

Included in that group of capable upperclassmen are juniors Rachel Botham (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood), Aly Brown (Hickory, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Melissa Vignetti (Pittsburgh, Pa./McMurray). Botham kicked off the 2006 season with a third-place team time of 19:44.00 at the Duquesne Duals, a 52 second improvement from the mark she registered at the 2005 meet. Botham continued to post top-five team performances throughout the remainder of the regular season, while Brown finished her sophomore campaign by rounding out the top six at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships with a time of 23:22.40. Vignetti competed in the Big East Championships last season and was also an integral part of the team's third-place finish at the CMU Invitational.

Other returning Panthers looking to break into the top seven are senior Ali Briggs (Washington, Pa./Washington) and sophomore Megan Heenan(Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central). Briggs was the team's leading runner after the 2005 season and Heenan competed in three events in 2006, with her best finish coming at last season's Duquesne Duals.

The women also have a talented corps of freshmen who are willing and able to step into the spotlight. Joining the Panthers are freshmen Liz Calabrese (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands), Heather Calisto (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin), June Farley (Radnor, Pa./Radnor), Courtney Kalamar (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), Heather Lezanic (Indiana, Pa./Marion Center), Alicia Lichvar (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort), Lyndsey Ratasiewicz (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Stephanie Stambaugh (Watchung, N.J./Watchung Hills), and Anna Yoney (Irwin, Pa./Norwin).