WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- After losing a handful of top runners to graduation in each of the past two years, the women's cross country team at Whitman College might be hard-pressed this fall to replicate its recent success.
Meanwhile, the Missionary men's squad returns five of its top six runners and hopes to move up the Northwest Conference (NWC) ladder this fall. The Whitman men placed seventh in a nine-school field in last year's NWC championships.
"It's always difficult to predict how the season is going to develop," Whitman cross country coach Carol Feezell says. "After winning the conference title two years ago and placing a strong second last fall, our women's team could swing either way. On the men's side, I'm very hopeful we will be much more competitive this fall."
Now in her fifth season, Feezell sees enough potential on hand to shoot for a top-four finish for both teams by the time the NWC championships take place in late October. "Our conference is very competitive, but top four is the goal for both teams," she says.
Competing last fall as a freshman, Braden Burkholder (Helena MT, Helena HS) emerged as Whitman's top male runner, placing a team-best 26th in a field of 79 runners in the conference championship race, which the Missionaries hosted at Ft. Walla Walla Park.
Lars Tysver (Bothell WA, Bothell HS), who had Whitman's next-best finish in that race, graduated last spring. Four of the next five Missionary runners, however, are back with the team this fall, led by senior Joel Byersdorfer (Issaquah WA, Issaquah HS). The returning nucleus also includes junior Jerome Schwartz (Bellingham WA, Sehome HS), senior Mark Wilson (Minneapolis MN, South HS) and sophomore Kirk Blais (North Pole AK, North Pole HS).
Ten freshmen should bolster the strength of the men's team, Feezell says. "All of the incoming freshmen ran cross country in high school, and they all have good potential."
Three of those ten -- Ryan Choi (Bellevue WA, Newport HS), Jesse Ramer (Vancouver WA, Columbia River HS) and Taylor Gaar (Marietta GA, Campbell HS) -- have been in touch with Feezell this summer, asking about training regimens. "That's always a good sign. It shows they are taking the right approach during the summer months, which is trying to build endurance and strength."
Other freshmen runners are Rory Bradt (Marysville WA, Marysville-Pilchuck HS), Patrick Cade (Riddle OR, Riddle HS), Conor Flynn (Aspen CO, Aspen HS), Michael Orcutt (Great Falls, MT, Russell HS), Dan Parks (Vancouver WA, Mountain View HS), Stefan Pryor (Palo Alto CA, Oakley HS), and James Voelckers (Douglas AK, Juneau-Douglas HS).
Led by senior Jennie Wood (Salem OR, S. Salem HS), who was running her first year of cross country, the Whitman women came close to winning a second straight NWC title last fall. Wood placed fourth individually in the championship race and teamed with four other seniors to power the Missionaries to a second-place team finish.
With all of those seniors graduated, Feezell faces a major rebuilding effort. One key to that effort is the health of junior Karin Pfeifer-Hoyt (Acme WA, Mount Baker HS), who missed all of last season with leg problems. Two years ago in her first season at Whitman, Pfeifer-Hoyt placed sixth individually in the NWC championships.
"The last time I heard from Karin, she was feeling great but still being very cautious," Feezell says. "She was running 45 minutes, every other day. We all hope she stays healthy."
The women's roster also includes four runners who competed in last year's NWC championships. Jeanne Knechtges (Bellevue WA, Newport HS) , a junior, had the highest finish in that group, which also includes senior Piper Foster (Colorado Springs CO, Palmer HS) and sophomores Flo Larkin (Berkeley CA, St. Mary's College HS) and Libby Winters (Minneapolis MN, Roseville HS) .
Jayne Bormann (Plymouth MN, Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) , who concentrated on cross country skiing last year, is one of two sophomores planning to give running a whirl this fall. The other first-year sophomore is Kristen Klein (Battleground WA, Battleground HS). Other newcomers this fall include Jessie Scott (Battleground WA, Battleground HS), a senior, and Ariel Andrews (Altadena CA, Polytechnic School), a junior who ran cross country two seasons ago.
Three first-year students round out the early season women's roster: Maureen Fitzmaurice (Grangeville ID, Grangeville HS), Katie Santorsola (Kirkland WA, Juanita HS), and Sierra Witnov (Santa Barbara CA, Santa Barbara HS).
The Whitman cross country teams begin their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Whitworth Harrier Invite in Spokane. The annual Whitman Invitational at Ft. Walla Walla Park is set for Saturday, Sept. 15.
The schedule also includes the Sept. 29 Big Cross Invitational in Pasco, the Oct. 6 San Francisco State Invitational at Golden Gate Park, and the Oct. 13 Warrior Invitational at Hell's Gate State Park in Lewiston, Idaho.
The NWC championships are slated for Saturday, Oct. 27, at Bush Park in Salem, Ore. The NCAA Div. III West Region championships will follow one week later at the same park.
Unlike recent seasons, however, Whitman has set its own qualifying standards for the regional championships. "Our teams won't go to regionals unless we place in the top four in the conference championships," Feezell says. "Our runners can also qualify individually by placing in the top 14 at conference. This way, we have to earn our way to regionals. It won't be the free ride it's been in the past."