Nov. 19, 2007
With 19 letterwinners returning to the fold, Head Coach Mike Glavin has a lot to look forward to this winter and spring.
At the top of the lineup, the most decorated veteran is senior Bobby Staten, who earned two A-10 Performer of the Week awards during the course of the 2006-07 indoor season.
Joining Staten in the senior ranks are cross country co-captain standouts Rich Ryan and Will Rowland. Ryan excels in the middle distance and steeplechase races while Rowland - an All-Conference cross country recipient - plies his trade in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.
The wealth of experience doesn't end there, however, as seniors Matt Weaver and Mike Tatara bolster the sprinting crew of the Hawks.
Weaver provides excellent experience and grounding for the team with his duties on and off the track. The chemical biology major and resident assistant ran the 400 leg of the All-Conference DMR squad, which finished second.
Additionally, Tatara returns for his fifth year of eligibility providing the necessary maturity and stability for a successful team. He looks to make the most of his extra year in his second stint as captain.
There is room for improvement with many of the returners being young, promising competitors trying to make a serious impact on the Atlantic 10. Returnees looking to make a statement are junior transfers Pete Dittmar and Kyle Murray, as well as indoor All-Cconference first teamer Brendan Kearney.
Murray and Dittmar will compete in their first full year at SJU after sitting out last year and practicing with the team. Kearney will try to improve upon his indoor 1,000m victory at A-10s in Rhode Island.
Other juniors who will contribute to the Hawks' cause are Tom Gonzalez in long sprints, and Justin Heinze and Stephen Young in distance races.
An impressive corps of athletes are in the sophomore class led by long distance standout Jonathan Sclafani, and sprinters Drew Brandt, Brian Doherty, and Stephen Philbrook.
Brandt appeared in 12 different events in his first season on Hawk Hill boasting impressive times as anchor on the 4x400m relays. Doherty broke through as a capable relay leg as well, running the 4x400m and 4x800m relays at the 2006 Penn Relays. Philbrook was steady in his improvement running the 400m Intermediate Hurdles. Sclafani's impressive long distance form should translate into a solid track season.
Other sophomores who will provide depth to the Hawk lineup and will improve in their sophomore track seasons are long distance runners Jimmy Jennings, Chris Savino, and George Wittmann, as well as sprinter Christopher Caranante.
There are 17 newcomers to the fold in the 2007-08 season to fill in the gaps that have been left behind by graduation. Sophomore Joseph Glasnovich (formerly of SJU men's soccer) and freshmen George Arcarola, Paul Barolette, Rob Bock, Christopher Lau, Jimmy McCue, Jared Sabre, Brian Smith, and Roland Tilar will allow the Hawks to spread their wings in the sprints and hurdles.
Freshmen Jesse Brooks, Aidan Byrne, Vince Collins, Kevin Donnelly, Ryan Fenimore, Luke Fischer, and Brian Guterl will use their cross country experiences and apply them to their upcoming track seasons. Dan Weinberg will compete in the throws, specializing in the javelin.
The men's schedule takes them to Lafayette December 7 before a month-long break into the new year. Two races at Penn State sandwich the Ursinus meet in January before the Hawks head to New England for two meets. There they race at Yale's Giegengack and the Atlantic 10 Champoinship at Rhode Island.
The Hawks return home to run at the Keough Invitational at Haverford followed by the NYU Fastrack meet at the Armory in New York. The IC4A Championship in Boston caps the indoor track slate.
The outdoor track schedule features a return trip to the Monmouth Season Opener in New Jersey with a trip to the Colonial Relays at William and Mary the next week. Two local meets; the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton and the Penn Relays in Philadelphia cap the regular season for the Hawks.
SJU will travel to UMass for the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships, travel to Princeton again for the IC4A Championships and should there be a NCAA Regional qualifer from the squad, they will compete May 30-31.
