Page 10-The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 9, 1990 X-country heads for Districts Men runners shoot for Badgers, NCAA by Kevin Sundman What a difference a year makes. Last year, the Michigan men's cross country team suffered through a disastrous ending to their season. In their two biggest meets of the year, they finished eigtth in the Big Ten meet and an embarrassing 18th in the NCAA District Champion- ships. "I told them after that race last year that they weren't an 18th place team," coach Ron Warhurst said, "and that if they wanted to be champions, they had to think like champions." Throughout the 1990 campaign, the Wolverines have heeded these words on their way to becoming one of the nation's best squads. The team has fared well all year against ranked competition, compiling three invita- tional victories. These wins should give the Wolverines the confidence they need going into their biggest meet of the season. Thirty-five teams will toe the line for the NCAA District IV Championships this Saturday in West Lafayette, and only three will advance to the NCAA Champi- onships next weekend. "We have faced good competition and done very well, so I don't foresee any problems competing at this level," Warhurst said. The Wolverines main competi- tion for the title will come from Big Ten champion Wisconsin, MAC champion Eastern Michigan, and Big Ten powers Michigan State and Illi- nois. But, in essence, this is a two- team race between the Badgers and the Wolverines, who were separated by just three points at the Big Ten meet. "Two weeks ago, we thought we could beat them," said Warhurst. "Then, we came so close to winning. Now we know we can beat them." Warhurst and his runners also noted that the length of the course could play in their favor. The race is being runat a distanceof 10,000 meters instead of the usual 8,000 meters. Because of the team's prior success at the increased distance, they feel the longer race could be to their advantage. Representing the team will be senior Brad Barquist, who placed third at the Districts two years ago, junior Tony Carna, and senior Jeff Barnett. This trio is key if the team is to avoid a repeat of last year's dis- appointment. Rounding out the lineup will be junior Matt Smith, junior Dan Oden, frosh Shawn Mackay, and sophomore Jason Colvin. "This week, we are running more relaxed," Barquist said, "and because of this, I feel we will race more re- laxed. This should result in stronger performances." When asked what words of wis- dom he had for his team this week, Warhurst had only one thing to say: "Champions don't choke." Badgers stand between women and by Jim Foss Daily Sports Writer The University of Michigan women's cross country team is looking to settle a little score. The only obstacle between the squad and an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships is a Wisconsin team that narrowly defeated the Wolver- ines the Big Ten Championship meet two weeks ago. With that third-place finish in mind, Michigan heads to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend to compete in the District IV Meet. Big Ten teams traditionally dominate the 5000-meter course, and Michigan coach Sue Foster feels that this year will be the same. "Indiana is expected to take first just like at the Big Ten's," she said. "We are hoping for second or third place. We were only ten points behind Wisconsin at the Big Ten's, and if we run well, we are certainly capable of second place. Wisconsin is beatable." Coach Foster described the course as comparable to the one in Minne- sota which served as the Big Ten Championship site. Because the size of the field is increased with the addition of Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, along with teams from Illinois and Ohio, the course should be a factor in the race strategy which the Wolverines will employ. "We hope to get out a little faster than the Big Ten meet," Foster said. "But when we look at the course, if it seems tough, we might have the runners sit back and then move up like we did at the Big Ten meet." 'We hope to get out a little faster than the Big Ten meet -Coach Sue Foster The top two teams in the meet, plus the top three individuals who are not on those teams, qualify for the NCAA National Championships in Knoxville. Though hoping that TCAA bid the team itself could qualify by taking second place, Foster is also optimistic about the chances of Michigan's top runners taking the individual slots. "Molly (McClimon) and Amy (Bucholz), depending on the course and the weather, could be in the top five overall with about the same times they had at the Big Ten meet," Foster said. "They could end up qualifying themselves." The Wolverines are still in good shape if they take third place at the District meet. Ranked 13th in the nation, Michigan has shown the NCAA Bid Committee it is worthy of strong consideration for an at- large bid to run in Knoxville. by David Kraft Daily Sports Writer Michigan men's water polo coach Scott Russell points to the hardships of sleeping on hotel room floors every weekend. Sophomore Paul Murray men- tions the difficulties of studying on seven hour car trips. These are only two of the many hindrances the Michigan men's water polo team will face this weekend as they travel to Evanston, Illinois to defend their title at the Midwest Regional Championships. The match will mark the 23rd time in 24 games the Wolverines (6- 5-1 Big Ten, 11-12-1 overall) have competed on the road. Coming off a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships last weekend, Michigan will enter the eight team, single-elimination tourn- ament as the No. 3 seed. Only Wisconsin and Indiana, the top two finishers respectively at the Big Ten's, are ranked ahead of the Wol- ANN ARoRl2 1 A LY$5TH AVE. AT LIBERTY 761.9700 DAILY $2.75 SHOWS BEFORE 6 PM & ALL DAY TUESDAY' ('EXCEPTIONS) Michigan water polo coach Scott Russell leads his squad in defense of the Midwest Regional Championship title this weekend. Michigan water polo looks to defend title. WEEKEND MAGAZINE Fridays in The Daily 763-0379 Ware visits Ann Arbor From Staff Reports GOODRICH QUALI Y THEATE it J6.._. I "MAGICAL! BRILLIANT!" Buoan and extemeyfunny." UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE!'" DA N N Y G LOVE R TO SLEEP WITH ANGER PG AN g ~- - Metropolitan I A READ DATLY CLASSIFIEDS Just two days after being named the Lions' starting quarterback, Andre Ware will make a cameo appearance in Ann Arbor. Ware and his agent, attorney Leigh Steinberg, will speak on the sports law field in Hutchins Hall room 150 at 4:00. nutty romance. PG-13 "- """"" =am - I I A W I S U N DAY DOUBLE T-SHIRT PRINTERY " QUALITY GARMENT PRINTING AT REASONABLE PRICES ONE WEEK DELI VERY ON MOST ORDERS " OUR ARTISTS WORK WITH YOU TO PRODUCE SHIRTS YOU CAN BE PROUD OF " COMPLETE LINES OF 100% COTTON & 50/50 QUALITY WEARABLES eWE FEATURE THE 994-1367*eMINIMUM ORDER HANES BEEFY- T 1002 PONTIAC TRAIL ANN ARBOR 12 SHIRTS Ii BROTHE Be prepared GET CUT Go whe COAC 668-8669 Dan & Jerry C PF November MALCOLM X verines. The first opponent awaiting Michigan is seventh-seeded Miami of Ohio. Although the two teams have yet to meet, Michigan feels confident of an easy first-round vic- tory. "We haven't played them (Miami, Ohio), but considering their perfomances against Big Ten teams that we have faced, they are not a big concern," coach Scott Russell said. Should Michigan defeat the Redskins, it would in all likelihood meet Indiana in a semifinal grudge match. Last weekend, the Hoosiers narrowly defeated a lackluster Wol- verine squad in Bloomington by a controversial 12-11 count. After the match was over, the victorious Indiana squad shouted, "Nobody beats us twice"- referrin, to a regular season rout at the hand@ of the Wolverines. "We look foward to a rematch with Indiana. This time, there will be no problem getting psyched" Russell said. The weekend's competition will also conclude the playing careers of seniors Keith Cox and Dan Varner. "We have relied on Keith and Dan tremendously," said Russell. "I hope they end their careers on a high note." MSU Continued from page 1 Ron Mason. The Wolverines (6-2-0) are off to a quick start after being ranked second in the CCHA preseason poll. Last weekend the team showed signs of struggle though, splitting a seniesWF with perennial underdog Ferris State. "We want to be sharper on of- fense this weekend," said Berenson, "but I think the important part of our game is the defense. If we're doing a good job defensively, the offense usually kicks in." The Spartans, who were ranked first in the preseason CCHA poll, have displayed a few chinks in thei, armor this season, most notably losing a pair of home games last weekend to Bowling Green. "We started the season real flat," said Mason. "We're just trying to work hard, and we're coming up short. That's been our Achilles' heel so far."$ The toughest competition the Wolverines have faced so far this season has been a split series against third-place Bowling Green. Four of the team's wins have come in sweeps over eighth-place Miami and Illinois-Chicago, who are floundering in last place. Berenson, who cites the favorable schedule and a few good outings as reasons for the Wolverines' first place standing, is taking nothing for granted this weekend. "We have a lot to prove," Beren@ son said. "In a month from now, if we're in first place, we'll deserveto be there. Right now, I don't think we've earned it, in the sense that we haven't beaten Lake Superior or Michigan State. "Not that I don't think we car. contend," Berenson added. "It's jst that we can't become comfortable in first place." Only four points separate the is coming. 0 0 fovember 30, 1990 FROM THE PROS. re the athletes go-- H AND FOUR* 806 S. State bet. Hill & Packard - NORTH CAMPUS 769-5511 Broa way CENTRAL CAMPUS 761-1111 East Ann St. WEST & SOUTH QUAD AREA 76-97 3 Packard at Dewey r I I I I I M Get two small I cheese pizzas for only $4.88 + tax. I I I I I 1 1