Sept. 10, 2010
A perennial conference contender, the Boston University women's cross country team enters the 2010 season with its sights set on the program's 16th America East championship and first title since 2006. The Terriers, who were tabbed to finish fourth in the America East by the conferences' coaches, will rely heavily on its top runners to bring an end to the championship drought.
"We have a good, highly competitive group of girls on the squad this season," said head coach Bruce Lehane. "If we can get our top runners to perform at their best, we'll be a very competitive team. We'll have to see if some of our younger runners can take that next step and contribute."
Leading the Terriers is junior Katie Matthews, who had a breakout sophomore campaign en route to team MVP honors. Matthews was the most consistent member of the squad in 2009, crossing the finish line as either the first or second Terrier in all of her races. The Rocky Hill, Conn., native opened the 2009 season with a seventh-place showing at the America East Pre-Championships and a fourth-place finish at the BU Invitational.
After pacing the Terriers at the New England Championships, Matthews grabbed eighth on the 5K course at the America East Championships and concluded the season with a 34th-place finish at the NCAA Northeast Regionals.
The lone senior on the team is Kathleen Davies, a Huntington Valley, Pa., native, who enjoyed a solid junior season. After helping BU claim the America East Pre-Championships with a 12th-place finish, Davies finished 11th at the BU Invitational. At the New England and America East Championships, she secured a 25th- and 26th-place finish, respectively.
"Kathleen is another person who is very important to our success," said Lehane. "She was a little hurt last year but ran well in track and throughout the summer."
Along with Matthews, BU's junior class is led by Mariko Takahashi, who Lehane credits as being an important piece of the puzzle after fighting through injuries in the early part of her career. Madeline Steiner will also be looked upon to provide the Terriers depth, while Luri Lee and Anna Lukes round out the junior class.
Nikki Long and newcomer Breeanna Potter look to be impact runners for BU's sophomore class that also includes Danielle Bowen, Kristin Cole, Tenny Ostrem and Marita Stressenger.
The Terriers add five freshmen runners, including Rosa Moriello, who Lehane looks to have an immediate impact. Other newcomers include Claudia Barnet, Ally Brillaud, Shannon Linderman and Sharone Moverman.
"We've added two very strong runners with Breaanna and Rosa," said Lehane. "Along with Katie, Kathleen, Mariko and Nikki, we have six strong runners with excellent backgrounds."
In 2010, the Terriers will race four times at Franklin Park. BU begins the season Saturday (Sept. 11) at the Boston College Invitational before hosting the America East Pre-Championships (Sept. 19), the New England Championships (Oct. 9) and the America East Championships (Oct. 30). On Nov. 13, the squad will race at the NCAA Northeast Regionals in Madison, Conn.
