Men’s cross country: UCI looking to improve

Tony Altobelli

CRAWFORD HALL - With five seniors and 10 runners with collegiate

experience, the UC Irvine men’s cross country team appears to be heading

in the right direction.

“I still think we’re a team of the future, but we’ve got a good, solid

core of runners on this squad,” UCI Coach Vince O’Boyle said. “It’s hard

to determine a favorite in the Big West Conference, but I think we’ll be

fine.”

UCI’s top returner is senior Jon Doroski, who placed ninth at last

year’s Big West Conference finals and qualified for the NCAA Regionals.

“He’s been here for three years now and he knows what it takes to get

the job done,” O’Boyle said. “We’re going to expect some big things from

him this year.”

Junior Travis Morisoli, who had a standout track and field season in

the steeplechase, placed 23rd at last year’s Aztec Invitational and

O’Boyle sees him among top ‘Eaters.

Junior Rob Evans enters his third year of running for UCI, according

to O’Boyle, after his strong summer workouts, the sky is the limit. “Once

he gets a couple of races under his belt, he should be right up there,”

O’Boyle said. “He’s going to surprise some people out there.”

In addition to the veterans, O’Boyle has assembled some talent for the

future, including freshmen Mike Beadle, David Santos and Thomas Harley.

The best thing about our freshmen is that they all came from quality

programs,” O’Boyle said. “That gives them a head start coming in here

with those credentials.”

In terms of conference success, O’Boyle knows this is a work in

progress, but the work is starting to pay off.

“Individually, we’re doing well, but I’d like to see us to well as a

team, too,” O’Boyle said. “A top-three finish in conference is a good

goal to shoot for with this group.

UCI MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Mike Arp Sr.

Mike Beadle Fr.

Jules Castano Sr.

Jon Doroski Sr.

Rob Evans Jr.

Juan Garcia Sr.

Andrew Garrett Fr.

Sean Geraghty Fr.

Eddie Guerrero So.

Thomas Harley Fr.

Brian Harrison Jr.

Humberto Hernandez Jr.

Aaron Jacobsen Jr.

Jeremy Johnson Fr.

Brian Moncreif Jr.

Travis Morisoli Jr.

David Santos Fr.

Tom Stepp Fr.

Matt Udink Fr.

Coach - Vince O’Boyle