Women’s cross country: UCI young, but feisty

CRAWFORD HALL - No seniors? No problem.

What the UC Irvine women’s cross country team lacks in veteran

runners, it makes up with raw talent and Coach Vince O’Boyle has a team

which will do nothing but get better, provided they stay healthy.

“Last year, I thought we had a shot at the (Big West) conference

title, but this year, I’m even more confident with my team,” O’Boyle

said. “Our goal is to win conference and even though we’re in one of the

toughest regions in the NCAA, I think we can compete with anyone. It

should be exciting.”

Leading the charge for the Anteaters is sophomore Julie Manson, who

made a major impact on the Anteaters’ success last year.

Manson finished 33rd at the NCAA Regional last year and was fourth at

the Big West Championships. She will look to fill the shoes of graduate

Kareen Nilsson, last year’s Big West Female Athlete of the Year.

“She’s looking as good, if not better, than she did last year,”

O’Boyle said. “She had a great summer workout and I’m really looking

forward to seeing how well she does this year.”

Also returning from a strong 2000 campaign include juniors Tessa

Cendejas and Courtney Baird. The twosome finished 59th and 60th,

respectively at the NCAA Regionals and both had excellent summer

workouts, according to O’Boyle.

Sophomore Jenna Keith and junior Amanda Armstrong also posses quality

talent and O’Boyle foresees them near the head of each race this year.

The list goes on and on for O’Boyle’s troops. Junior Lisa Massoth has

been strong in the summer, freshman Kaleena Yee is in excellent shape,

freshman Jenny Liou is in her first cross country season, but has already

shown promise and freshman Kelli Vanderburg was eighth at last year’s

California state meet while competing for Buchanan High.

“It’s a very talented group,” O’Boyle said. “Idaho will be tough, Cal

Poly San Luis Obispo is the defending conference champs, Santa Barbara

and Utah St. are always strong, but I’ll take my chances with this group.

Not to mention the fact that we all can come back and compete next year,

too. Whatever happens this year is a bonus.”

UCI WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Amanda Armstrong Jr.

Courtney Baird Jr.

Tessa Cendejas Jr.

Meghan Chase Fr.

Janelle Del Soldato So.

Cindy Fierros Fr.

Melinda Fuller Jr.

Trisha Harris Jr.

Veronica Herrera Jr.

Jenna Keith So.

Jenny Liou Fr.

Julie Manson So.

Lisa Massoth Jr.

Suzanne Purmort Fr.

Kim Ramirez So.

Pam Smith So.

Kelli Vanderburg Fr.

Kaleena Yee Fr.

Katherine Ziegler So.

Coach - Vince O’Boyle