Northwestern University Athletics
The 2003 Outlook
8/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Aug. 19, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Listen to football coaches during the season, and they will tell you that their goal is to take their team "bowling" in December or, better yet, January -- in other words, get them to one of the prestigious bowl games. Normally, these bowls are played in exotic, warm-weather places like New Orleans; Orlando, Fla.; Pasadena, Calif.; and San Antonio.
Last year, Northwestern women's cross country coach Amy Tush talked about taking her team bowling, too.
In November.
In Terre Haute, Indiana.
One can almost hear NU football coach Randy Walker: "Amy, this is neither the time nor the place if you are talking about bowling."
Ah, but Coach Walker would be wrong. In cross country, the goal was to be in Terre Haute last November -- you see, that was where the NCAA Championship meet was held.
One month earlier, in that very same town, Tush sensed her women were putting a lot of pressure on themselves the night before the Pre-National meet. On a whim, she led them to the local lanes to release the stress. After the Wildcats put forth a strong showing at that meet, a tradition -- unorthodox or genius, you decide -- was born, and the end result was Northwestern's first NCAA berth since the program was brought back as a varsity in 1998.
Some new names may mean a new game in 2003 -- Skeeball, anyone? -- but Tush claims not to be concerned with where she will find distractions during the championship season. Not yet, at least.
"We are coming off a great season, which makes it easier to think about this one," she said. "I am very excited for the 2003 cross country season to begin."
Four seniors have graduated from last year, all of whom ran in the championship meets. That leaves a lot of spots open, and Tush feels many women will be energized by the chance for promotion.
"We have some experienced and motivated runners who want to continue last year's success," she said. "Our run at NCAAs last year put the national spotlight on us and brought attention to our program. However, I don't want this to be a one-time thing -- we have the talent in our returnees, the leadership in our seniors, and the strength in our freshmen to have another tremendous year in 2003."
SENIORS
Four women will provide the senior leadership in 2003, led by the Rockford (Mich.) crew of Emily Blakeslee and Nora Colligan. Blakeslee -- who is a junior-eligible after missing the 2001 season to injury -- has been a consistent scorer in championship meets during her two seasons of competition, while Colligan has run at Big Tens three times and was an alternate at last year's regional and national meets.
"With consistent training during the spring and summer, I am looking for great things from Emily this year," said Tush. "Nora still has a lot to prove in competition, but she is a hard worker and a positive influence at practice. I expect her to break through in her final season."
The other seniors are Catie LaBracke, one of NU's captains for the second straight year, and Nicole Kalogeropoulos. Both of them scored in three meets last year, and LaBracke won an individual title at the Forester Invite.
"Catie is ready to break into our Top 10; she has been on the bubble for the past two years but this will be her year," said Tush. "Nicole should also step up and be a factor -- she has verbalized that she wants to do well, so I know she will."
JUNIORS
Any talk of this class begins with Diana Hossfeld, a two-time All-District runner who will assume the mantle of lead runner held the last three years by now-departed Rachel Evjen. Another junior, Kyna Forkins, stepped up late last year and ended up being a factor in the championship meets. She is a two-time participant at the Big Ten Championships.
"This is Diana's year to step up and be a leader," said Tush. "She has the talent and motivation to do it. Kyna is our other co-captain in 2003, and I will count on her again to keep up the team spirit as she has in her first two years."
Three of their classmates hope to crack the lineup -- Caroline Speirs, Ali Vavas and newcomer Lesley Meade. Speirs raced five times last year and scored in three meets, while Vavas raced four times.
SOPHOMORES
Several candidates here could move up in 2003. Kalysta Harmon and Lindsay McAlister had strong rookie campaigns and may be the early favorites to move up.
Harmon made the biggest move during last season; she earned a spot on the Big Ten Championships squad and was also NU's top scorer at the Lakefront Invitational. McAlister, meanwhile, raced three times and scored just behind Harmon at the Lakefront.
"They both have such natural ability," said Tush. "You get these types of runners every now and then; you hope you can convince them how much of an asset they can be."
Another woman who could step in is Jessica Anderson, who Tush says "she had a great spring season and I look for that to carry her into the fall."
Ashley Roberts and Lisa Marx struggled through injury-plagued seasons in 2002, so the hope is that they come out strong in 2003 and give a push to the other returnees.
NEWCOMERS
Meade -- who joins the cross country program after two years with the Northwestern swim team -- is one of 11 women joining the Wildcats this season, and Tush makes no bones about it: she expects them to contribute.
Tush is counting on at least two of them, especially, to make a charge toward being with the first unit in time for the championships.
"Katie Romaine and Casey Shea should make an impact right from the start," she said. "They had great high school experiences and know what it takes to be successful. "I expect Jama Bernard will also be among our top freshmen this season," she continued. "With regard to the others, I am excited when I think about what surprises we will see."
The ultimate goal, of course, is another NCAA Championship bid. Which begs the question: does Cedar Falls, Iowa -- home of this year's national meet -- have a bowling alley?
Actually, Northwestern will have opportunities to scope out the local entertainment early in the regular season at every one of this year's championship sites. The 'Cats will compete at Michigan State, host of the November 2 Big Ten meet, in September; Stillwater, Okla., home to the November 15 Midwest Regional championships, in early October; and of course Cedar Falls for the Pre-National on October 18.
"2002 was a season to remember forever," said Tush. "2003 will be one of challenges to face and expectations to conquer. We have a great team returning this year and we will continue what we have started -- I challenge everyone to become a part of it."
