The University of Memphis men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to start their seasons as both squads host the Memphis Invitational at Shelby Farms Saturday.
With a mix of veterans and new faces, coaches from both teams said they’re looking for improvement this year.
Glenn Hays, who is entering his 33rd year as head coach of the men’s team, said although his squad is young, its range of experience and style is an asset.
That range could be attributed to the fact that four runners hail from Canada, one from Hungary and two from Memphis.
The team did acquire junior college transfer, Mose Danzler, but Danzler was deemed ineligible after lacking two credit hours.
“Our strength this year is our depth,” Hays said. “We have seven solid runners this season. Our top runners should be Balazs Laszlo, Ryan Smith and Derek Nakluski, but the other four should give them a run for their money.”
According to Hays, Hugh Ferry, Seven Anthony, Ricky McClain and Cameron Thomas have the abilities to compete with the team’s top runners.
Last year’s squad consisted mostly of walk-ons with only two scholarship athletes. The team finished last in Conference USA. This season, the team has five scholarship students.
“It is a young team, with four new faces,” Hays said, “so we will have to wait until a few meets are under our belts before we can judge where we will be at conference time.”
The women’s squad looks to start anew after struggling last season. Like their counterpart, The Lady Tigers have a few new faces this season.
Three freshmen, Wendy Labourn, Nora Nemere and Ashley Williams, along with transfer Haylay Futrell will compete with the squad.
They join seniors Andrea Dahlman and Lilly Lebron as well as juniors Leslie Dailey and Wendy Ragle to complete the 2001 squad.
“We struggled a little last year as a team,” said women’s cross country assistant coach Stan Hollenbeck. “Individually, they did well.”
According to Hollenbeck, Ragle is “coming on strong” this season. Ragle was redshirted last season because of illness.
“Lilly (Lebron) looks like she is doing pretty good,” Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck added the true test, however, doesn’t come until competition time.
“We’ll have to get in a meet situation to know,” he said. “I’m looking for the girls to stay focused and improve this year.”
Teams expected to compete in the Memphis Invitational this weekend include Ole Miss, Rhodes College, University of Tennessee-Martin, Christian Brothers, Murray State and Southeast Missouri State University.
The women will compete in a three-mile race slated for 8:30 a.m., while the men run a four-mile race at 9 a.m.
