Ire LL PLAYOFFS 4 (11 inn.) IA Thursday October 10, 1996 8A: q Women's cross country races state Blue battles in Michigan Intercollegiate Cardinal poses challenge for 'M' men's harniers By Chris Farah Daily Sports Writer Possibly the greatest challenge for the Michigan women's cross country team so far this season has been to remain focused and motivated while competing against inferior opponents. The Wolverines have been strong favorites at each of their meets this sea- son and have not disappointed so far, winning each one in dominant fashion. The Wolverines look to continue this trend when they travel to Dowagiac for the Michigan Intercollegiate Invitational tomorrow afternoon. The Wolverines will face different division teams from across Michigan. The toughest challenges should come from Eastern Michigan and Big Ten rival Michigan State, which has the best chance of providing Michigan with its first upset of the year. The term "rival" should be applied loosely to the Spartans, however. In their opening meet of the season, the Wolverines trounced Michigan State in head-to-head competition, 42-19, with Michigan placing five runners in the top seven scoring positions. "The Michigan Intercollegiate pro- vides the last of the Wolverines' cream-puff competition before the serious meets of the season begin, which include the Big Ten champi- oiships. The Wolverines must work to remain focused despite the lack of challenge the Intercollegiate will provide, according to senior team captain Jen Barber. "We've had some talks about (it being) a make-it or break-it point in the season," Barber said. "Either we're going to buckle down and just see what we can do with this team or we're just going to get through the rest of it and not focus on the things to come. It's easy to say the first couple of meets 'Well, it's the beginning of the season.' But that's no longer an excuse anymore." Michigan coach Mike McGuire also stressed continued improvement, con- sidering that the Wolverines face nation- ally-ranked opponents for the first time just nine days after the Michigan Intercollegiate. "The big meets are coming up, so you want to be trying to work and pre- pare yourself for that level of competi- tion," McGuire said. "We'd like to pack up a little bit better, and we haven't run real fast times yet. Our theme all year has been to improve each meet, and we want to continue to do that." The Wolverines have been making strong efforts to keep themselves focused both mentally and physically during the two-week break since their last meet at Miami (Ohio), and tomor- row's invitational should help to main- tain that edge. Physically, the runners are reaching their top form of the season, according to McGuire. "We've had three real good work- outs since out last meet, so I'm look- ing forward to it being a real solid race for us" McGuire said. "Everybody has shown improvements in their training, and it's just a matter of (them) going out to do it that day on the course." Mentally, Barber has made sure that her teammates are prepared for the chal- lenges that lie ahead. "We had a (team) meeting just the other day," Barber said. "It wasn't an official meeting, we just said 'OK, this is it, we're going to go for it. We're going to have to buckle-down and focus.' "Now we realize that the big meets are coming up, and it's time to get after it." By Jacob Wheeler Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's cross country team will continue climbing the lad- der of competition tomorrow, when it meets No. 3 Stanford in Maine. No. 15 Arizona, Army, New Hampshire, Holy Cross, Boston College, Maine, William & Mary and Kansas will also participate in the Murray Keating invitational. "Stanford is a good team," Michigan senior Scott MacDonald said. "They're very deep through the sixth or seventh spots, and they have a lot up front." But No. 9 Michigan is on a roll right now, and the Wolverines have their hopes set on an upset. "Anything's possible," Michigan coach Ron Warhurst said. "If we run Stanford man for man, we can take them." The Wolverines feel they've been underestimated in the polls because of Kevin Sullivan's preseason injury. The Wolverines knocked off then- No. 9 Notre Dame last Friday and are in a position to turn some heads with a good showing this weekend. "We've climbed a little bit in the polls," MacDonald said. "But we'll make an even bigger mark if we run a good race Friday. Even if we only come close (to Stanford), we'll make an impression." Warhurst will take I I runners to Maine, and the top five score in the meet. Jay Cantin was promoted to the varsity race, as expected. "If everybody runs the way they can, we will beat Stanford," MacDonald said. "But we'll all have to step it up a bit." The overall field won't be as big as it was at Notre Dame, so more Wolverines will have to finish high- er up. "It's going to be a Michigan frohn rolling in if we are to win it," Warhurst said. "We'll be in goo* shape if five of our guys finish in the top 20, and two need to finish in the top five as well." MacDonald and sophomore John Mortimer, Michigan's top two run- ners, might be able to place in the, top three, but they'll have plenty of, competition from the likes of. Arizona's Bob Keino, as well As~ Stanford's runners. "There's going to be a lot of goo,( runners there," Warhurst said. "But Stanford and (Michigan) each have seven or eight of them, while the rest of the teams only have one or two." Mortimer placed second last Friday at the Notre Dame Invitational while MacDonald finished eighth. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mortimer won the race tomorrow," Warhurst said. Mortimer has been the Wolverines most consistent runner all year. MacDonald, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season. "He's been putting in a big effort, Warhurst said. "But he's been training real hard and now he's got the flu." The terrain of the course might also give the Cardinal an advantage. Stanford is the fastest team coming in, so it may have the edge running on roads and open fields. "It's a fast asphalt surface,. MacDonald said. "So we won't wear our spikes during the race." FILE PHOTO/Daily The Michigan men's cross country team travels to Maine this weekend for the Murray Keating Invitational. Among the 10-team field, the Wolverines will face No. 3 Stanford and No. 15 Arizona. Michigan softball looks to continue winning ways in first fall exhibition tourney By B.J. Luria For the Daily -Even the most die-hard Michigan fanis might not know which athletic team has won the Big Ten champi- onship four of the last five years. That might just be because not enough peo-, ple have paid close attention to the softball team. This weekend, the Wolverines kick off preparation for the 1997 season when they host the Wolverine Classic at Alumni Field. The 1996 season was a record-break- ing one for the Wolverines, who set 10 team season, six individual season and six individual career records. The Wolverines finished the season 20-4 in the Big Ten and 51-14 overall. The 51 victories set a Michigan record. The Wolverines continued their domi- nance into the postseason, winning the Big Ten tournament as well as NCAA Region 11. Michigan advanced to the Women's College World Series, where it finished seventh in the nation. This weekend, the Wolverines will face Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Wayne State in the two-day event. Although the classic is an exhibition tournament, it is important nonetheless. "The tournament is a chance for us to get some competition when we would otherwise just practice," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "It also gives the younger players a chance to play and get used to college softball.", This season, the Wolverines expect a few key members of last year's champi- onship team to lead the way to another Big Ten title. "We are looking to Sara Griffin and Kellyn Tate to provide a lot of the offense,' Hutchins said. "Sara will also set the tone on defense on the mound." Juniors Griffin and Tate are coming off All-America 1996 seasons. Griffin won 35 games on the mound for the Wolverines last year, en route to repeating as Big Ten Player of the Year. First baseman Traci Conrad was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Besides the returning veterans, the Wolverines will need help from their younger players. "There is a lot of youth blended in with the experience on this team," Hutchins said. "We have young people on the left side of the infield as well as a couple of young outfielders. The tourna- ment will give us a chance to blend the youth with the experience, to give them a chance to gel." The Wolverines play four games Saturday and Sunday, twice against Eastern Michigan and once against Wayne State and Toledo. The first game against the Eagles is Saturday at noon. The Wolverines will play in one more exhibition tournament, the Big Ten Invitational, Nov 5-6 at Penn State, before taking the winter off to practice. The regular season begins in February, when the Wolverines begin their quest for five championships in six years. 5040M iJL FILE PHOTO/Dadiy The Michigan softball team hosts this weekend's Wolverine Classic at Alumni Fleld. OCT. I I & 12 Fri. 10-6 Sat. 10-5 SELLERS: Bring bicycle-related items you've collected over the years that are still useful but no longer needed: tools, parts,.accessories and bikes! We will help you determine a price and sell them for you. FOR JUNIOR NURSING STUDENTS A NURSING EXPERIENCE AT MAYO FOUNDATION HOSPITALS - ROCHESTER, MN Here is your opportunity to work at Mayo Medical Center for the summer. 4 IntellectualCapital.com - the Web's leading e-zine of policy opinion - is now accepting applications for student writers. I I 7 I I