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sports:
track and field
Green squad looks
to gel
By Mike Haubrich
On-line Forty-Niner
Green. It's a word
Andy Sythe uses when describing the Long Beach State cross
country team.
Sythe, the team's
head coach, is using the word not only to infer inexperience,
but also to describe a team that's filled with newcomers and
returnees who can possibly gel into one cohesive unit.
"We don't
have any one standout," Sythe said. "Everyone has
strengths. We're a green team with a lot of freshman and 70
percent of the team is brand new to each other. But there
are no excuses for being green; this is a talented group of
people."
The team was hit
by graduation, losing several top runners, but through recruiting
and transfers, Sythe likes the outlook.
"This was
the best recruiting class [both men and women] in my time
here," said Sythe, who begins his 13th season as head
coach. "It bodes well for the future of the team."
Sythe's recruits
include Arturo Garcia, Matt Bates and Brian Robles on the
men's side and Betsy Lively and Jennifer Yadon, along with
Portland State transfer Sharon Burnett, for the women.
"They all
have strong credentials," Sythe said.
Several strong
runners return for the 49ers, but two will have to overcome
nagging injuries to make an impact.
Aaron Durham, who
finished 14th ? the top finish of any LBSU runner -- at the
Big West Championships last year, is coming back from a stress
fracture in his left foot that forced him to redshirt for
The Beach's track & field team last season.
Nicole Scott has
a chronic hip problem that hampered her much of last year
and is lingering this season.
"Aaron injured
the foot in the spring," Sythe said, "and wasn't
able to train as much as before. We hope his endurance improves
and he has confidence on the foot.
"Nicole's
hip problem just didn't go away last year, and we took a chance
it would heal. Potentially, she has a lot to offer us and
we're hoping she can get to 100 percent.
"She has a
lot of heart and we hope she can run healthy this year."
Other key returnees
on the men's side include Brain Stehmeier, who Sythe said
has made marked improvement from last year and showing strong
leadership, and Cory Martin, who Martin said could crack the
top five.
Andrea Palacio
could be the top runner on the women's side, and Diane Mendoza
will be looked on to make a contribution.
"Andrea enables
us to be more effective [as a team]," Sythe said. "Diane
was our most improved runner and really stepped it up over
the summer."
As a team, Sythe
is looking for more of a pack strategy instead of having a
rabbit break to the front, although having someone step up
is still a possibility.
"We may get
someone to break out," Sythe said. "Obviously that
helps, but our strength will rely on pack. [Assistant coach]
Dana Colligan Gutierrez worked to get the talent in here,
now we can test our engines."
"Not only
this year, but down the line."
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