Despite talent, track teams not in the running for a championship

by Janice C. Funk

assistant managing editor

Spring, with its blooming flowers and longer days, is generally renowned as the season for new beginnings.

However, the signs of spring may be lost on Cabrini's runners as they sprint past, preparing for their own new beginning in the outdoor season.

The 1999 outdoor season begins this Saturday, March 20, with a meet at Franklin and Marshall College. The men's and women's teams, with a combined total of about 20 runners and throwers, look to hurdle the obstacles of sickness and disorder that slowed the team in the '98-'99 winter season.

Sophomore distance runner Celena Blasucci said of the winter season, "A lot of people were sick. It was really disorganized."

Blasucci, who spent some of the indoor season sick herself, is now well and ready to run in the spring.

Key meets for the team will include an invitational in Lynchburg, Va. and the famous Penn Relays.

"We want to do really good at the Penn Relays," said Roxanna King, a first-year sprinter.

King, who is not running at this time because of an injury, cites the accomplishments of fellow first-year students Amanda Campbell, sprint team captain, and Tiffany Corry in the winter season as indicators of success to come.

Campbell and Corry, along with Jason Bull, Shaun Hazlett, Patrick Hutton, Ryan Jones, Donna Kain, James Williams and

Kristin Zielinski, competed at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 27, 1999.

According to Hazlett, captain of the men's sprint team, Cabrini's strong events in the spring will include Corry on the 110 high hurdles and the men's 4x400 relay team. First-year student Becki Carman is also expected to put in a strong performance throwing the javelin.

Ryan Jones, a sophomore member of the men's team, is looking forward to the spring season because "the distance team is a lot stronger than last year."

However, Jones voices a concern of the track team.

"Many of the teammates are disappointed because we're not in an official league and there's no championship at the end of the season," he said.

''The N could allow us to have greater success since we can practice skills and learn from one another," Neary said.

The greater success will be measured in the bid for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. "It's in our hands," said Neary. "It's there for the taking."

The Lady Cavs' next home game will be on Monday, March 22.

The game is a PAC match against Immaculata College.