HAVERFORD, Pa. – What is past, is past.
In 2010 Haverford College's men's cross country team won the college's first NCAA title, buoyed by All-American performances by the team's first five runners including national champion Anders Hulleberg '11. That was last year, though, and national coach of the year Tom Donnelly is focused only on 2011.
The squad returns two all-Americans in senior Eric Arnold and junior Jordan Schilit. Tim Schoch, an indoor and outdoor track all-American along with Arnold, finished 71stat the 2010 NCAA cross country championship and returns for his senior season while junior Ivo Milic-Strkalj, a three-time track all-American, will likely jump into the team's scoring quintet in 2011.
Also vying for top-five places within the team will be 2011 track all-American Andrew Golato '12 and seniors Andrew Sturner and Foraz Sohail who both posted provisional NCAA qualifying times in the 10,000 meter run for last spring's NCAA outdoor track championship. Senior Pat Haneman, junior Peter Kissin and sophomore Brian Sokas are among other top returners who could help push the team towards another podium appearance at nationals.
The Fords captured the 2010 Centennial Conference and NCAA Mideast Regional titles and those same steps toward nationals are on the 2011 to-do list for the Fords who collected five first-place votes and 61 points to sit atop the Centennial's 2011 preseason coaches' poll. Donnelly has his eye on the long-term prize, though, which is to peak at the end of the year and have the team run its best race at the 2011 NCAA championship meet.