Cross Country Reports, Begins Training
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2007) - The school year is underway and thus it is time for the cross country teams to get back out on the course.
With a new head coach in Rob Bartlett and a strong returning core from a men’s first place SCIAC team and a fourth place women’s finish, the upcoming year for Oxy cross country looks to be shaping up nicely.
During the 2006 season, as the interim head coach, Bartlett led the men’s team to the national championships after winning the SCIAC title for the first time in 11 years.
Following the success of the 2006 squad, the expectations entering 2007 are high. A year ago the team went on to place second at the West Regionals and qualified to represent Occidental at the NCAA National Championships in Northfield, MN. In the end the Tigers finished the season ranked 30th in the nation.
The new season will see five runners returning including the talented senior duo of Alex Ramon (San Jose, Calif.) and Kevin Chaves (Los Altos, Calif.) who will be among the top SCIAC runners this season. Joining the experienced runners, Oxy has added a promising class of freshman who will add depth to the squad including RJ Infantino (Media, Penn.).
The men have their sights set on back-to-back SCIAC titles en route to establishing the Oxy program among the dominant DIII teams in the West.
On the women’s side the Tigers will showcase their largest squad in recent years. A year ago the women finished fourth in the conference, but unfortunately were plagued by injury and illness throughout the course of the season.
Senior harrier Caitlin Croall (Newcastle, Wash.) established herself as Oxy’s number one runner before injuring her hip late in the season. Sophomore Denali Halsey (Tacoma, Wash.) placed fourth among SCIAC cross country runners during her first year and earned All-West Region recognition as well.
The 2007 team will be much improved with the addition of a talented recruiting class, including junior transfer Sandra Martinez (Glendale, Calif.) who is coming off an incredible summer of training.
Bartlett believes that the women could shock a number of folks in the SCIAC this year. “If we can keep the core of these women fit and healthy then there’s no reason they can’t push for a top two finish in the conference.”
Both teams will open the season on Saturday, September 8 at the UC Irvine Invitational with the races slated to begin at 8:30 a.m.
