Converse Cross-Country 2005 Outlook
With the 2005 Cross Country Season just around the corner, Head Coach Robin Tarpinian answered some questions about the bright future of Converse Cross Country and the new era as a part of the CVAC Conference.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
This is an exciting time for Converse Cross Country and with the talent we have this year, provided we stay injury-free, we should place in the top three at the CVAC meet.
What kind of impact will the newcomers have on the team?
The seven new runners will have a tremendous impact on the team this year as they make up the majority of the team. Every newcomer brings a wealth of experience to the team and will greatly influence our position at the regional meet. Last year we placed tenth at the regional meet and with the team we have this year, we will be aiming for a top five finish.
What progress have the returners made in the past year?
They made great progress and we hope to see even more this year. Samantha Greenidge (Boiling Springs, SC) and Mary Cloonan (Spartanburg, SC) cut a full minute of their personal bests. Megan Pearce (Elizabethton, TN) who last year ran hurt will be a huge contributor to the team as her dedication and leadership are immeasurable.
What kind of competition do you expect to see at the St. Louis Invitational?
It will be exciting because it will allow us to compete with teams that have no track program and serves as the Cross Country-Only National Championship. The atmosphere will be like nothing we have faced before and will test how we respond to high pressure and intensity on a major scale. Wayne State University swept the top five spots last year but we will go to St. Louis fearing no team and hopefully return with good results.
What do you expect to face in the CVAC this year?
It is going to be a very competitive conference with Lees-McRae being the team to beat after the way they performed last year. We are training and preparing to challenge for the title as are most of the teams in the conference and it will be a tough battle for the Conference Championship but we know that with the team we have, we have a chance to take Converse to the top.