At the beginning of last season, the Haverford College women's cross country team had a number of untested runners. With the start of the 2010 season looming, those untested runners shed that tag during 2009 and now make up a deep cast that will try to lead the Fords back to the NCAA championship for the second consecutive season.
Having his top-seven back from a team that placed 30th at the NCAA championship meet last season gives 21st year head coach Fran Rizzo plenty of optimism heading into 2010.
"If everyone can progress we'll be in good shape because our conference and region are tough," Rizzo believes.
Junior Emily Lipman and senior Liz Zoidis will lead the pack. Lipman is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she earned All-America, All-Mideast Region and Centennial Conference Runner of the Year honors. Zoidis, an All-Mideast Region runner in 2009, has improved each of the last three seasons and hopes to attain All-America honors herself.
Senior Harper Hubbeling, junior Alice Vienneau, sophomore Andrea Tocci, senior Caity Tully and junior Kaitlyn Shank make up the rest of the Fords' lineup. In addition to Zoidis, five of the six finished within the five scoring positions at least once in each of the final three meets, four scored at least twice and Hubbeling and Tocci scored in all three as well.
"If Liz can close the gap between her and Emily, Harper, Andrea and Alice can run together like they did last season and Caity and Kaitlyn can push everyone, we should be in good shape," explained Rizzo.
Rizzo also expects sophomores Sara Hess, Mary Morgan, Rachael Potter, Sheera Rosenbaum and Sally Weathers to provide depth.
"Those five came on strong at the end of the last outdoor track season and I expect them to help us," Rizzo said.
Although the aforementioned returners will make it tough for any newcomers to contribute right away, Rizzo thinks freshmen Emily Scott and Erin Seglem could have an impact before the season is over.
After officially opening the season Sept. 23rd, the Fords will face tough tasks in three of the next four races. A trip to the Carnegie Mellon Invitational Sept. 25 will prepare Haverford for its return trip on this course for the NCAA Mideast Regional in November.
"After we run it once we'll know what we're getting," said Rizzo.
In the following three weeks the Scarlet and Black will face some stiff competition from Division I, II and III opponents as they head to the Brooks-Paul Short Run (Oct. 1) and the Princeton Invitational (Oct. 16). The Fords close out October by heading to Johns Hopkins for the Centennial Conference Championship (Oct. 30) before heading back to western Pennsylvania for the regional Nov. 13 and the chance to qualify for the NCAA Championship race the following Saturday.
The health and progress of Haverford's top-seven will determine the team's ultimate success in 2010. A deep sophomore class allows the Fords to overcome any minor bumps in the road. If the Fords avoid injuries then it will give Rizzo plenty of worthy candidates to push his team towards their goals.
"This group worked harder this summer than any team we've had in the past," Rizzo said. "The hardest part will be determining the top-12 for the Centennial championship and the top-seven for the regional because of how much depth we have."
If that becomes Rizzo's toughest decision by the end of the season, then it will be another successful season for Haverford.