Aug. 31, 2001

As the Stony Brook cross country/track and field team heads into the 2001-02 season, a new challenge looms for the Seawolves. As a new member of one of the strongest conferences, not to mention arguably the toughest region in the country, second-year coach Andy Ronan and the Seawolves look to make a name for themselves with a team full of experienced returners and talented newcomers.

Cross Country

The men's team enters the fall with an experienced and talented team, as seniors Mike Thompson and Dave deWolfe return with a year in Coach Ronan's program under their belts. In addition, junior Jonathan Brims, who missed all of last year's cross country season due to injury, showed great promise during the 2000-01 track season and should continue his success this fall. Sophomore transfer Dale Summerville will also be a quality runner.

"The men's team will have more depth and ability up front this year," Ronan said. "We have a realistic chance to finish in the top four in the conference if we put everything together."

Senior Jason Strom, junior Bill Cotter and junior transfer Andrew Gabrelle will also provide support.

As for the women's team, senior Jenny Payne returns after a season in which she qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships and shaved 40 seconds off her time in the 5K.

"She's in a position to be a very strong competitor in the America East," Ronan said. "She has a very real chance of being one of the top five individuals." Junior Jackie Berman is back after missing most of last season with an injury, while freshman Laura Hixson should be a strong performer. Seniors Patty Gregory and Tina Huggler round out the top group.

Not only is the America East very competitive, but so is the Northeast Region, presenting very tough competition for the Seawolves. Stony Brook seeks its first NCAA qualifier against some of the top teams and individuals in the country. Last year, in addition to the conference's top two teams which automatically qualify, three teams in the region received at-large berths. The more teams that advance to the NCAAs, the better chance an individual has to qualify.

"Jenny is a contender for a Top 30 finish in the region," Ronan said. "That gives her an outside chance for an NCAA qualifying spot."

Track and Field

The men's team will be strongest in the distance events, as Brims, Summerville and Thompson could be potential conference champions in the 1000m and the mile. The Seawolves' distance medley relay team of Thompson, junior Chris Hunt, deWolfe and Brims--which set a new school record last season--also returns at full strength.

In field events, the Seawolves have a more all-around team with sophomore Joe Cardinale, who returns after a solid season in shot put and discus events, Chris Hunt, who will compete in the 500m, and newcomer Jason Hunt, a hurdles specialist. On the women's side, Payne will again represent the Seawolves in the 3000m and 5000m, while Berman will compete in the 1000m and mile. Berman and Payne will also anchor the DMR.

Junior Dana Shepherd returns in the 55m, junior Nicola Baker in the 400m and 500m, and junior Corrine Leake in the 400m.

"Jenny and Jackie will be very competitive in the conference," Ronan said. "Beyond that, they both have the potential to qualify for the ECAC Championships, both in their individual events and with the DMR team."

As the Seawolves build on last season's triumphs and Ronan enters his second year, Stony Brook seems poised to continue its recent success with a strong debut in the America East.