Pre-Season Harrier

September 7, 2006                                                                                                                                                                Edition No. 1

     In order to understand who the Eagles ARE for 2006 needs to re-visit who they lost to graduation.  The Eagles lost a core of senior runner who had logged over 250 varsity races in their careers, all three captains, team co-MVP’s and all leaguers Jim Dexter and Chris Weingarth, and a huge amount of experience and keepers of the J-E tradition of cross country excellence.  “It is always difficult to replace seniors said J-E Coach Roman, “but last year’s class was exceptional”.  “Imagine a class that’s raced over 250 races”, “they will hard to replace”.

     This is what IS known about the 2006 J-E Cross Country Squad.  It returns two of its top five scorers from the 2005 team, fifth-ranked Kyle Merrill and team leader Jeff Donohue.  Donohue, a junior, led the 2005 team in scoring with 119 points, one point ahead of graduated senior Chris Weingarth.  Donohue was also a second-team all leaguer in 2005.  “Jeff has only one speed” and that’s all out” said J-E Coach Roman, “just ask his teammates”.  “Asking Jeff to go easy is like trying to ride a Brahma Bull, not an easy task”.   Donohue finished 15^th in the Class C Sectionals in 2005, and easily should improve on this if early season workouts are any indication.  “He’s knocking on the door of the State Meet” said Roman, “I’m hoping that he’ll make it because rarely do you see an athlete put more into a competition than Jeff”.

     Right behind or sometimes ahead of Donohue is fellow junior Donato Direnzo.  Direnzo was only the team’s 8^th leading scorer in 2005, but a year of cross country, indoor and outdoor track has boosted his fitness and confidence.  Combining with his distance “triple crown” (XC, Indoor and Outdoor Track) was his attendance to the famed Cross Country Running Camp called appropriately, “Aim High”.  “Donato will only improve this season and there’s no telling how good he can become” said Roman.  “With Jeff and him competing at every turn, we’ll have a mighty tough one-two punch”.

     So far in workouts, junior Jake Griffin is J-E’s third man.  “Griff” as his teammates often call him ran cross country last season and was ranked 11^th.  Griffin also completed the “triple crown” last year and has looked very fast in practices.  “He’s completely passed by every runner who was faster than him last year except for Donohue and Direnzo” said Roman, “he looks fit and he runs with a purpose”.  Combine this with his natural intensity (Griffin often has a nasty scowl on his face.), and you’ll have a fearless runner who will sacrifice his comfort to do well in a race.

     The next three harriers are all seniors and will battle and improve throughout the season.  Last year’s fifth man, Kyle Merrill, returns not quite up to his 2005 form, but seems motivated to return to his old form.  “I think Kyle got a real awakening during his first practice when the guys that he used to beat were way ahead of him” said Roman, “funny how these things naturally motivate good athletes like Kyle”.  “He’ll get there before too long, but because he missed most of the pre-season conditioning, it may take a few weeks”.  Seniors Shelby Brayton and Kyle Bard, both attended the Aim High Camp look really strong, and will compete on the team’s top seven.   “Both boys look so much faster than last year” said Roman, “Shelby is really a tough kid, but he’s basically a sprinter who runs cross country”.  “Bard has run cross country since seventh grade, and I’m ecstatic to have him part of the varsity team”. 

     Probably the surprise of the season so far is the performance of freshman Mike Marrero.  Marrero ran modified track last spring and was only defeated once in the 1500.  In fact, according to Coach Roman’s statistics, there hasn’t been a modified boy whose time was faster than Marrero’s since Jeff Whitmore ran a 4.52 in the spring of 1994.  Marrero ran a 5.01.  “Mike will definitely be a varsity runner this season” said Roman, “I’m not sure if he’s 4^th man or 7^th man, but I’d bet my house on the fact that he’ll do well this season and for seasons to come”.

     Empire State Games Bronze medalist Andy Degray returns to cross country after an injury shortened junior year and shows flashes of the athlete that probably will hold the school records in both the long jump and triple jump.  “Andy’s athleticism knows no boundaries” said Roman, “he can really help us”.

     The rest of the squad probably will race as Junior Varsity team members are: George Brauchle (soph.), Kyle Becker (soph.), Brendan Hogan (soph.), Matt Sullivan (frosh.), Dylan Kirk (frosh), Cody Stanton (frosh).  Kyle Alpha is injured and won’t be able to compete but is at practice everyday and still tries to work out and motivate his teammates.  Alpha is also the team’s Web Master and an invaluable aid to Mr. Roman in the maintenance of the team’s web site.  “I don’t know what I’d do without Kyle’s assistance” said Roman, “he’s a real knowledgeable kid when it comes to the internet”.

     There you have it, the jury is still out.  Stay tuned and hopefully you’ll be able to go for a ride on the magic carpet that the J-E Boys Cross Country Team have provided Coach Roman for over 20 years.