Season Outlook
For the past nine years the Haverford College women’s cross country team has finished in the top-three in the conference and the top-four in the region (with the exception of last year). With three of the top-five scorers from the 2008 Centennial Conference Championship returning the Fords expect their success to continue in 2009.
Key Runners
Sophomore Emily Lipman leads the cast of returners this fall. In her rookie season Lipman finished sixth at the conference championship and 10th at the NCAA Mideast Regional. Lipman’s performance at the regional earned her a spot at the NCAA Championship where she finished 87th of 279 runners.
Juniors Harper Hubbeling and Liz Zoidis are expected to fill out the two remaining scoring spots for Haverford. Hubbeling placed 31st and Zoidis took 35th at the Centennial championship last fall.
“Losing two all-conference runners is tough to replace, but Harper and Liz are going to help fill that void,” said head coach Fran Rizzo.
Who Will Emerge?
The great unknown heading into 2009 is filling the final two spots in the top-five, but Rizzo expects a strong group of upperclassmen to compete for the final two spots. Seniors Maya Cabot, Kaia Davis, Aileen Keogh, and sophomores Jamie Croucher and Alice Vienneau will all vie for one of the two spots. Four of the five ran at the conference championship last year, finishing between 54th and 72nd. Vienneau advanced to the Mideast Regional where she placed 116th.
“All five worked very hard this summer,” said Rizzo. “That being said they will have to prove themselves when the season begins.”
The competition amongst the five will certainly make them all stronger as the season progresses.
The Schedule
Haverford’s first two meets are on consecutive weeks. In each meet they will face teams that will challenge them.
“We run against good teams early which will help us gain experience that will be beneficial later in the season,” Rizzo explained.
The Fords have the advantage of running in the Brooks-Paul Short Run at Lehigh University on October 2; sight of the NCAA Mideast Regional.
“Running that course early in the season will help us become comfortable with the turns and hills,” Rizzo said.
The Expectations
Rizzo’s goals for his 2009 squad are to finish in the top-three in the conference, top-four in the region and qualify for the NCAA Championship. Only time will tell if those goals can become reality for a young team, but a third-place spot in the Centennial Preseason Coaches' Poll lends proof to what this squad is capable of accomplishing.
“If we can duplicate last year’s performance that would be a good season, but the conference is going to be better this year so reaching our goals will be tougher,” Rizzo explained.
If Lipman, Hubbeling and Zoidis can take the next step and a few others have breakout seasons there is no reason the Fords will not be in the thick of things come November.