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Sept. 4, 1997
Defending NCAA Champion Stanford Men's and Women's Cross Country Team Opens 1997 Season
RENO, Nev. - The defending NCAA champion Stanford men's and women's cross country teams open defense of their titles on Saturday (Sept. 6) at the Reno Invitational.
Stanford, California, Sacramento State and Nevada will compete. The men will race 6,400 meters, while the women will race 5,000 meters.
Although the men's teaM lost quality runners in Greg Jimmerson, Rob Reeder and J.J. White to graduation, head coach Vin Lananna is again aiming for a top finish at the NCAA's, which will be held this year at Furman University (Nov. 24).
"The foundation is there," said Lananna, who was named United States Cross Country Coach of the Year following the team's first place finish at the NCAA's in Tucson last year. "Although we lost great leaders in Jimmerson, Reeder and White, we are not rebuilding, we are reloading."
The impressive cast of returnees includes the Hauser Brothers, Brad and Brent, who despite their youth, are two of the top runners in the country, both in cross coutry and track & field. Brad, a junior, helped lead Stanford to the Pac-10, District-8 and NCAA titles. Brad finished second at the NCAA District meet, third at the Pac-10's and sixth at the nationals to gain All-America honors. His brother, Brent, also gained All-America honors at the NCAA's.
Other returnees who have helped Stanford to victory in recent years have been Jason Balkman, Jason Lunn, Nathan Nutter, Ryan McCalmon, Jason Perscheid and Jonathan Weldon.
Thomas Murley and Michael Stember are two redshirt freshman who are ready to showcase their talents in 1997.
The list of freshmen recruits is impressive. They include Brian Burke, Jamey Gifford, Isaac Hawkins, Gabriel Jennings, Jonathon Riley and Grant Robison.
The Cardinal women will be very experienced, talented and with unlimited potential.
Stanford's list of talented returnees include Mary Cobb, Kortney Dunscombe, Sally Glynn, Sara Moore and Sarna Renfro. Cobb, although only a junior, has already gained numerous All-America honors in cross country and track & field. At the NCAA's last year, Cobb was Stanford's third best runner and gained All-America status. She also placed sixth at the conference meet and seventh at the district meet.
Other returnees include Shaluinn Fullove, Mary Huang, Kerry Dugan, Ashley Holt, Linn Schulte-Sasse, Ryan Thomas and Allison Twist.
The redshirts include Courtney Adams, and Christy Lacey-Krietz.
The talented group of freshmen include Julia Stamps, Becky Gogel, Anne Gunnison, Ann Ramsey, and Elena Villarreal.
Stanford will also compete on the road at the Fresno Invitational on Sept. 20, before opening its home season at the Stanford Invitational on Feb. 27.