18A - The Michigan Daily - SportsTuesday - September 8, 1998 4ens cross country ducks golf balls at Open By Chris Duprey Daily Sports Writer The No. 7 Michigan men's cross country team began its season by run- ning in the unscored Michigan Open - an event so unofficial that the University Golf Course staff doesn't even stop golfers from playing during the race. Traditionally, the open serves as an opportunity for Michigan coach Ron Warhurst to select his seven-man traveling squad and gain an early-sea- son measurement of the team's poten- tial. Todd Snyder turned in a fine audi- tion for the top spot, pulling away from his fellow Wolverines in the sec- ond half of the 8,000-kilometer race to take the victory. Perhaps the biggest question facing Michigan in '98 is how Warhurst will replace the graduated Kevin Sullivan and still keep the Wolverines in the nation's top 10. Michigan hopes that depth will become its strength, instead of the liability it was last season. "This year we have 10 guys capable of scoring. Last year we only had five," Warhurst said. "Kevin Sullivan will always have his place as a legend in Michigan cross country history. No one will be able to replace him." With team captain John Mortimer expected .to continue his success, Snyder's resurgence should help restore the Michigan 1-2 punch of '97. But Mortimer was out of charac- ter Saturday. The senior never broke away from the lead pack to give Snyder a serious challenge, finishing fifth. "This win doesn't mean anything because Mortimer's not in shape yet," Snyder said. One performance that did mean something was that of freshman Mark Pilja. The newcomer ran with captain Don McLaughlin the entire race, politely allowing the senior to take second place ahead of him down the stretch. Jay Cantin is another returner expected to post fast times, but the junior's ninth-place finish at the open was not the best indicator of his endurance. Cantin consistently rounded out the Wolverines' top five last season and was a significant fac- tor in Michigan's fourth-place finish at NCAAs. There were plenty of valid excuses for not running well. The weather was slightly warmer than expected for an early morning race, and the wet ground also slowed the Wolverines. Slow early performances are nor- mal at Michigan under Warhurst, who is entering his 25th season as coach. Heavy legs in August and September translate into success come champi- onship time. "The team has been putting in 90- mile weeks," Warhurst said. "Mortimer's sore. Everyone's sore." Sullivan was in attendance at the golf course Saturday - but not in uniform. The former All-American took down times for the team and cheered on his former mates. The Wolverines will try to build on a '97 season which saw them capture every invitational on their schedule. Sullivan won his fourth individual Big Ten championship and led his team to a conference title as well. Michigan was the favorite in all of those races - even at the Big Ten Championships - but the Wolverines went one step beyond expectations by taking the NCAA Great Lakes District Championship title, outlast- ing 17 other hopefuls to secure an invitation to nationals. Even at NCAAs, Michigan kept its all-business attitude, proving that its top-five ranking throughout the sea- son was warranted. Sullivan came up just short in his pursuit of the individ- ual title and the Wolverines finished third, just eight points behind Colorado. Warhurst's rigorous training will have plenty of time to take effect. Michigan will enjoy two bye week- ends before traveling to Missoula, Mont., to defend its '97 champi- onship at the Mountain West Classic. U I YPLAN I L AICH. ,_M (C H - - - - - - - - - - ----- IFREE PAS G 0 B L U E fit@0 LOUIS BROWN/Oafty Katie McGregor (center) led the pack and teammate Elizabeth Kampfe (left) by nearly 40 seconds at the Sycamore Pride cross country meet Saturday. 'M' harriers cruise to team, individual titles at Sycamore ride t GOOD FOR I ONE VISIT I L ----- ----------J FEATURING: " 20,000 lbs. of available weight - * This area's largest workout floor - * State of the art ICARIAN " J, Quinton 3.0 Clubtra Treadmills MAX Climb Steppers TECTRIX - Bike Max Bikes PRECOR - Transports " Non-Slip rubber flooring " 15-foot high ceilings * Pro-Shop (clothing, supplements, drinks) free weights and machines 0 1ROUN&TREE i VIL.AGE RE WASYEIAORH AF. WASHTENAW AVE. Student Rates: One Semester Only $89 Sept. 1, 1998 - Dec. 31, 1998 School Year $169 Sept. I, 1998 - May 1, 1999 Hours M-F 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. SAT 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. SUN 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. II mm I I _I8 MAPLE VILLAGE PLAZA i XTADRRA dt.1lQ MAPLE RD. i i i 0A ld j ltt tee fro I I 6 734-572-8500 2243 Ellsworth Ypsilanti, MI 734-913-8500 301 N. Maple Rd. Ann Arbor, MI By Josh Borkin Daily Sports Writer If any Michigan team looks prepared to make a run for a national champi- onship, the women's cross country team seems to be a leading candidate. This past Saturday, senior Katie McGregor led the Wolverines to the Sycamore Pride title held at Indiana State. The Wolverines finished first with a team score of 19 points, 65 points better tharrunner-up Butler. Overall, six of the top nine finishers were Wolverines, and all of Michigan's I 1 entries finished in the top 50 in a field of 91 runners. The All-America twosome of McGregor and Elizabeth Kampfe cap- tured the top two spots. McGregor dominated the field, running the five- kilometer course in a time of 17:32.66, nearly 40 seconds faster than second- place finisher Kampfe (18:11.84). "Personally, I'm not overly pleased with my performance," Kampfe said. "But I think this race was a good indi- cator as to where I am in my training." McGregor looked dominant from the start. She immediately broke away from the pack and was able to sustain a large lead throughout the race. "Katie is a phenomenal runner," Kampfe said. "I use her as a tool to key off of." McGregor and Kampfe provided the Wolverines with their usual top finish- es, but freshman transfer Katy Radkewich surprised many with an impressive third-place finish (18:28.83). Radkewich "was a very accom- plished high school runner," coach Mike McGuire said. A four-time All- American in high school, she attended Providence last year, but transferred after sitting out the year due to injury. "She's a tough competitor and some- one who can definitely make an impact up front," McGuire said in a released statement. "It's going to be a transition for her though, as it is with any trans- fer." Radkewich's performance this past Saturday seems to be a clear indication that her transition will be a smooth one. She finished in front of several upperclassman, a group which included sixth-place Michelle Slater (18:45.28), seventh-place Katie Clifford (18:49.06) and 16th-place Julie Froud (19:18.85). "Katy has to adapt to college life* well as being an athlete, Kampfe said. "I think she did a great job Saturday adapting to the competition as well as the grueling pace, after being injured last year." Some of the weaker performances can be attributed to last week's training camp in Glen Arbor. Both the men and women's cross country teams attended a week-long training camp consisting of long trail runs, full-team worko and "a lot of bonding," Kampfe sai. The Wolverines hope to improve upon last year's impressive season, which produced runner-up finishes at the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Regionals. They concluded the season with a seventh-place finish at the NCAAs. All runners from last year's squad return. "This weekend the team showed a lot of potential," Kampfe said. "We hope* improve our ability to stay together as a pack in the beginning of races. By stay- ing tight as a pack we not only will place higher, but look intimidating as a group." "Champion's Gym - For the Champion in You!!" U P, ri i' J, IJ s yOttt~11ont'he an fo 1r a fina .( st f or , itVIIN_ aculty andsa1 Get news faster than an A2 parking ticket. |/ Bring this coupon to any UMCU office. You can find us at 3 locations in Ann Arbor: * Main Campus at 333 East William More inflfrm;.,- * North Campus in the Pierpont Commons