2004 Bloomsburg University

Men's and Women's Cross Country Preview

As the Bloomsburg University cross country teams prepare for the 2004 season, coach Karen Brandt is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the new year.

“We will have a nice mixture of returning runners as well as freshmen,” said Brandt. “All of our runners have been preparing themselves over the summer for the start of a new season. Our biggest hurdle will be getting our freshmen through the first year and all the transitions that come with going from high school to college.”

Kramer and Pisano in Action

On the women's side, the Huskies return a veteran group that has the capability of making some noise at the end of the season. Leading the returning runners will be Danielle Kramer and Amanda Pisano. Kramer is a former NCAA cross country and track national qualifier, while Pisano qualified for the NCAA track championships this past spring.

“Kramer is coming back to running after missing last track season and I expect her to race from the front once she is ready to go,” Brandt continued. “(Amanda) Pisano should have her strongest season yet. She has developed her confidence and race savvy in her first two years and should be one of the front runners in the conference throughout the fall.”

Sophomores Sarah Bounds, Megan Chaudrue, Ella Daniels, Karen Hause, Anne Stefursky and Terri Sutherland along with junior Katien Conlon should all be in the mix for varsity positions.

“We expect the women's team to be among the top five in the conference throughout the season and to be at their strongest and best for the conference and regional championships,” said Brandt. “We aren't putting pressure but we all have it in the backs of our minds that this could be a huge year for the women's team. If they believe in themselves individually and collectively, we think they can go really far.”

Justin Shepherd

The men's team has a strong contingent of returnees in Justin Shepherd, an All-Conference runner as a freshmen last year; sophomore Chip Carnes, senior Mike Espinosa and junior Paul Gardiner. Expected to challenge these four for a varsity spot is Central Columbia freshman Dave Sanford.

“Sanford is focused and willing to work,” Brandt said. “However, (Justin) Shepherd was 15th at PSAC's last year and 16th at NCAA Regionals so I don't discount what a freshman can accomplish.”

“Like the women, the men seem to have done their pre-season work and their enthusiasm is high,” commented Brandt. “In the conference, we see it as pretty much anybody's chance this year, behind Lock Haven. They have a men's team that if it stays healthy, no one can touch. After that, however, we see ourselves as in the mix of the stronger teams.”