Bloomsburg 2006 Women's Cross Country Preview

BLOOMSBURG- Optimism. You can hear it in the voice of Bloomsburg University women's cross country coach Karen Brandt. That's because Brandt feels the Huskies this year have more potential than any other Bloomsburg cross country team in the past eight years.

Why is Brandt so optimistic? A year ago the Huskies finished second at the PSAC championships and fourth at the NCAA regional championships, narrowly missing a berth to the NCAA National Championships. Brandt is looking for even better things this fall.

"We have a majority of our varsity returning and it is not difficult to imagine that this team has what it takes to make it to the NCAA championships," said Brandt. "While we know that is a lofty goal to achieve, that is what this team is aiming for. I would not bet against them."

Junior NCAA-qualifier in both cross and track, Amber Hackenberg (Middleburg/ Middleburg), should lead the Huskies. But she has a number of teammates with the ability to challenge her for the number one position. Sophomore Beth Schwing (Hershey/ Lower Dauphin) ran varsity on last year's team but really began to develop her running abilities last spring in track with team-leading times at 1500 and 3000-meters and a national provisional qualifying time at 5000-meters. She will likely be a strong first, second or third for this year's team.

Last season's number two runner, Ashley Shuck (Milton/ Milton), is healthy after an injury and would like nothing more than to re-establish herself in the role of number two or maybe even number one on the 2006 team. Senior co-captain, Sarah Bounds (Shippensburg/ Shippensburg), comes to this cross season with confidence and a desire to be a major factor in the region to follow up her strong second in last spring's track conference 10,000-meter race. Senior co-captain Karen Hause (Bloomsburg/ Central Columbia) had a bit of a frustrating junior cross season, not always in the team position she had earned in the past. She's redoubled her efforts this summer and figures to be in the hunt for a solid top five place on the team. Senior co-captain Toni Zangari (Sunbury/ Shikellemy) had a breakthrough 2006 track season with huge personal records and conference qualifying times at 3000, 5000 and 10,000-meters. She'll bring that tenacity and focus to cross and should be a significant part of the varsity line-up.

Three freshmen Michelle Jansen (Warrington/ C.B. South), Sandy Newell (St. Mary's/ Elk Columbia Catholic) and Angela Borealo (Easton/ Easton) all have the credentials to make a quick and decisive transition to the college cross country ranks and could well play major roles in this year's team. Should recovery and summer training have been complete, sophomore Shannon Hoffman (Watsontown/ Warrior Run) can be in this mix at the front of the field as well.