Sept. 15, 2004

What a difference a year makes. USF Cross Country enters the 2004 season with great optimism after welcoming the most successful recruiting class in program history, bolstered by a core of returning runners, who committed themselves to an intense spring and summer workout schedule.

Head coach Helen Lehman-Winters enters her second season at the helm of Dons cross country and looks for nothing short of a dramatic turnaround and strong finish for a perennial also-ran. With the USF women's track program making it's debut in 2005, Lehman-Winters was able to attract a strong group of women with highly decorated prep backgrounds to the Hilltop.

Women Team Ready to Make A Move on the Hilltop: USF welcomes the deepest and most talented group of newcomers in program history and is the first class composed of Lehman-Winters recruits. Jeannine Hagedorn (Cologne, Germany) headlines the group and brings an impressive resume of international and national level experience in her native Germany. Hagedorn boasts multiple top-10 individual finishes at the German National Indoor and Outdoor Championships and has was a member of a three-time German National Champion Cross Country squad.

Lehman-Winters is excited about bringing in an athlete who will immediately challenge at the 2004 West Coast Conference Championships.

"Jeannine brings a unique blend of competitive experience in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track to our program. Jeannine will be an effective front runner for our team this fall and has the ability to vie for the conference title."

Sophomore Renee Stribling also figures prominently for San Francisco this season, after turning in one of the best freshman campaigns in program history in 2003. Stribling turned in the second fastest time ever recorded by a USF runner in last year's WCC Championship and posted respectable marks at 1500 (4:36) and 800 ( 2:16) during Spring track season, running several events unattached.

Lehman-Winters knows Stribling is capable of developing into an elite runner in the WCC and will be looked upon for leadership on a very young, yet talented USF team.

"Renee will be an effective front runner for our team. She has the ability to contend for a top-10 finish at the conference championships," Lehman-Winters said.

Four incoming freshmen will also help carry the load this season - specifically, Lucy Miller (Snohomish HS, WA), Jennifer Hartford (Santa Margarita HS), Bernadette Casabonne (Campolindo HS), and Meredith Degyansky (Allegany HS).

This group of freshmen has a great opportunity to make their mark this season, according to Lehman-Winters.

"Our frosh group brings a lot to the team. They all have demonstrated a strong work ethic in early season training and are excited to contribute to our program," Lehman-Winters said.

The West Coast Conference: San Francisco looks to challenge this season in the WCC, but must do so against improving competition in an improving league. Portland is once again the team to beat and have dominated the women's side, winning 14 of 17 titles since 1987. Santa Clara won their first women's cross country title in 2001, while Pepperdine also figures in the mix.

This season, the Dons have their sights set on an upper echelon finish, which would be only the third in program history. USF owns a pair of fourth place finishes (1996 & 1998), but have never finished in the top-three.

Greatly Improved Men's Team Ready to Challenge: USF looks prepared to continue their rise in the West Coast Conference standings this season, after posting some good results last season. The Dons welcome a solid core of returning athletes enhanced by an influx of talented newcomers.

Ryan Courtwright, Eric Flemming and Cheyne Inman propel the Dons

Junior Eric Flemming will serve as team captain this season and is the top returner on the men's side after a 17th place finish at the 2003 WCC Championships with the fastest time by a Don in the history of the event. Sophomore Jorge Martinez also will contribute once again this season after posting the fastest time ever turned in by a USF freshman and a 21st place overall finish at the league championships last season. Junior Abraham Abarca will also be looked upon for leadership on a young team this season.

"Eric is coming off a solid summer of training and we expect his level of performance to improve dramatically over last year. Jorge gained a lot of confidence during his freshman campaign that will bring leadership to our young squad," Lehman-Winters said.

Head coach Helen Lehman-Winters welcomes a small, yet highly capable recruiting class to the Hilltop this season.

Cheyne Inman (Vacaville, CA) turned in a standout prep career, highlighted by winning the sectional championships in the 3200 and finished seventh at the 2004 California State Championships. Ryan Courtwright (Lincoln, CA), competed for an extremely successful high school cross country program at Jesuit High School and will add strength up front, while Jacob Marx (Bend, OR) will also be a significant scorer on team

"All three of our freshmen are capable of making an immediate impact at the conference level. With the addition of our solid frosh trio, our WCC team finish will improve significantly from our 2003 6th place finish," Lehman-Winters said.

The West Coast Conference: If the Portland women have dominated, the Pilot men have a stranglehold on the event and have won 25 straight WCC titles - the longest such streak for any sport in league history. The last team other than Portland to win the event was Nevada-Reno, who won the last of four straight titles in 1978 before leaving for the WAC. Once again Portland figures to be the team to beat, although Gonzaga and Santa Clara will look to challenge. San Francisco is eyeing the first upper-echelon finish in program history this season. The Dons have three fifth-place showings, the last coming in 1983 - before any of the current men's team members were born.