Harriers at MAAC Championship Friday
MADISON, CT-The Rider cross country teams will be the first to compete for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Title this year, when the Broncs take part in the MAAC Championships Friday at the Hammonasset Beach State Park.
"We are looking forward to competing at the MAAC Championships this week," said Rider head coach Bob Hamer. "We feel that our training has been very good and we are looking for our performance to reflect our current fitness."
The Rider men will be led by senior Christian Gonzalez (Somerset, NJ/Franklin Twp.), who was named the MAAC Runner of the Week three times this fall. Last year Gonzalez finished 12th of 127 runners and as a sophomore he placed seventh at the MAAC Championships.
"Chris has a goal to win the MAAC title," Hamer said.
Iona, ranked fourth in the nation, is the obvious favorite to win the men's race, having won every MAAC Championship since 1991. The Iona women have won the last five MAAC Titles.
"Iona is very good and they have many talented runners who can win any race on any given day," Hamer said. "Many have tried to beat the Iona runners and each of them has fallen short. It will be a difficult challenge but one that Chris will not back away from."
Other members of the men's team who look to do well Friday include senior Michael Soroko (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon), who earned All-MAAC honors last fall with a 13th place finish, and junior Michael Lindner (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central), who placed 25th last season.
For the Rider women, senior Chelsea Callan (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) is expected to lead the Broncs. Last season Callan finished 14th among the 121 runners to earn All-MAAC honors, despite suffering from the flu. As a sophomore she placed 16th, just missing All-MAAC honors (top 15).
The race will be run in Connecticut for the first time. "We are anxious to preview the course on Thursday and develop some strategy that will hopefully aid us in the race," Hamer said. "I really think that it is great to compete on a new course and it will only enhance the championship experience for the athletes. They are excited to race at a new venue."
The MAAC Championships have historically been held at Van Cortlandt Park in New York, except for the years when they are in Florida at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.
Last year the men placed third and the women fifth.
"We are capable of a breakthrough performance and if the athletes approach the race with confidence and give a great effort we will obtain the result that we desire," Hamer said. "We have had a few races with disappointing results recently, but I have confidence the team will get it together and race very well on Friday."
-ru-
