SportsWednesday - September 6, 2000 - The Michigan Daily .- 9B Anonymous Wolverines plan to extend run of excellence in cross country By Ryan C. Moloney Daily Sports NTiter For the better part of the 90's, the Michigan men's cross country team churned out successful fall seasons like a summer blockbuster movie seies. Unlike in Hollywood, the sequels goi better and better. With each year, heros such as Kevin Sullivan, John Mortimer, Jay Cantin and Steve Lawrence gradu- ally moved in, starred, then gave away to new protagonists. The familiar faces this time around are far and few in between - media guides should be passed out at the entrance. But coach Ron Warhurst enjoys ithe lowered national projections and has wasted no time tossing the team's five freshmen into the fray. "That's life in the big city," Warhurst said. "You don't go to military school to practice war and they can't get away with BSing (on the collegiate level). "I'm sure they got to the three-mile- mark and said hey it's over, it's high school."' Warhurst said at the end of yesterday's Wolverine Invitational. Most collegiate men's cross country races span ten kilometers or 6.2 miles. The invitational, however, was five miles long. The meet is traditionally the opener for the season and for all intents and purposes, functions as a hyped-up time trial. Both senior Mike Wisniewski and junior Mark Pilja gave the appearance of professional runners, sporting their own uniforms as opposed to the usual maize and blues. Though the Michigan golf course is closed for other home meets, the course stayed open yesterday, providing a peculiar site for spectators -- runners filtering past foursomes searching for lost golf balls. The Wolverines return Pilja and senior John Butsic, both key top five runners from last year's team. Wis- niewski, in all likelihood, will redshirt this season according to Warhurst. "He could be top ten at this year's NCAA, but I'm banking on going with nine solid guys next year - hopefully we can challenge for the whole thing in two years." Wisniewski and Pilja went 1-2 in the race, five seconds apart. Mason Ward, perhaps the team's top incoming fresh- man, took third. Butsic, nursing an ear infection, fin- ished in back of the pack. "I'm concerned about him," Warhurst saidAdditionally, junior Tom Caughlan and sophomore David Cook are crucial to the depth and durability of the top five. Both are challenging for spots behind Pilja who, if Wisniewski is redshirted, will most likely inherit the number one spot from the departed Jay Canti n. NEED HOUSING? GO WITH THE BEST! " Secure parcel and mail receiving " Permanent address-eliminates the confusion of address changes, and assures receipt of all mail (no lost job offers, etc.) " Confidential service - Three FREE months with 12 month rental e Acceptance of deliveries from UPS, Fed Ex, DHL, USPS, and other carriers' " Convenient, safe location in the heart of the campus . Friendly service ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE: SOVERNIGHT DELIVERY #.FAX-SEND AND RECEIVE WORLDWIDE. * UPS AUTHORIZED SHIPPING OUTLET " COPY SERVICE (INCLUDING CANON COLOR COPIES) * PACKAGING SUPPLIES " CUSTOM PACKING. " PASSPORT AND ID PHOTOS " USPS " FREIGHT (PACKING AND SHIPPING) LOOK FOR US ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE MICHIGAN STUDENT UNION and two other convenient locations. PLYMOUTH GREEN CENTER (734)662-6666 Fax (734)662-7225 3588 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI.48105-2603 PLYMOUTH ROAD z w -A V N 0m MOCO z MBE z A H0 NORTH = l 0 WOODLAND PLAZA SHOPPING CTR (734)662-7777 Fax (734)662-9779 2232 South Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 48103 z o S. MAIN STREET 4 z IFMBE 'a NORTH 1-94 WOODLAND PLAZA some restrictions may apply. MICHIGAN STUDENT UNION (734)662-8585 Fax (734)662-8833 530 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 MBE. S. UNIVERSITY AVENUE MICHIGAN STUDENT ; UNION ;xc (GROUND h A FLOOR) NORTH MAIL BOXES ETC." IT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. IT'S HOW WE DO IT. Hey, Moving In? rJ CARDBOARD - When you've finished unpacking Recycle those empty boxes