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News Release
2005 Cross Country Outlook
9/2/2005
Women’s Outlook The Retriever women’s cross country team returns five runners from last year including captains Stefanie Thomas and Kathleen Galan. Thomas has crossed the line as the first Retriever in 15 career meets and finished 13th at the America East Conference Championships last season. Thomas enters her senior year and is poised to break the top-10 in the conference meet. Galan finished as the Retrievers’ second best runner at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals last year after returning from injury midway through the season. Galan with a full season in front of her could team with Thomas to make a strong finishing duo for the Retrievers. UMBC will also look to U’Tonna Sherrod and Morgan Little who each scored in six meets last season and sophomore Tawny Barin, who in her freshman year came on strong towards the end of the season and earned the team’s most improved athlete award. Allison Mathis and Emily Saltsman join the Retrievers as freshman this season. Top Women’s Returners Athlete Year Hometown/HighSchool Notes Stefanie Thomas SR Kathleen Galan JR Sicklerville, NJ/Highland Regional Strong return from injury, UMBC’s second best runner at NCAA Regionals Tawny Barin SO Columbus, NJ/N. Burlington County Earned team’s Most Improved Athlete Award U’Tonna Sherrod SR Millersville, MD/Archbishop Spalding Team’s third best finish on five occasions, scoring in six meets Morgan Little JR Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright Scored in six of seven meets Women’s Newcomers Athlete Year Hometown/HighSchool Allison Mathis FR Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown Emily Saltsman FR Fallston, MD/Fallston Men’s Outlook The Retriever men’s cross country team is filled with lots of depth and some stout runners at the top. Head coach Murray Davis has 11 letterwinners returning this season and added five newcomers. Captains Izudin Mehmedovic and Shawn Shokry both return after solid seasons last year and look to be the Retrievers front runners heading into the 2005 season. Mehmedovic finished as the top Retriever in six of seven meets and placed 13th at the America East Championships. Much like Stefanie Thomas of the women’s team, Mehmedovic should place in the top-10 in the AE Championships. Shokry has top-10 capabilities as well placing 19th last year at the conference meet. Shokry last year finish first or second in all seven meets. Ryan Cartwright and Aaron Smith did most of the other scoring by the Retrievers finishing as the third or fourth Retriever in most meets. Blake Davis is returning from a strong first year campaign as the junior placed 33rd at the AE Championships last year. Other returnees include Chris Baumler, Mike Brady, John Commins, Alex Driscoll, Isaac Matthews, Peter Ramdial and J.J. Wetzel who will look to mesh with newcomers Russell Bauer, Paul Boardman, Nick Keane, Anthony Kelhower and John Okoniewski. Top Men’s Returners Athlete Year Hometown/HighSchool Notes Izudin Mehmedovic SR Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills UMBC’s top runner in 6-of-7 meets last year, 13th at AE Championships Shawn Shokry JR Florham Park, NJ/ Ryan Cartwright SR Perry Hall, MD/Eastern Technical Finished as UMBC’s third best runner in 4-of-7 meets Aaron Smith SR Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright Scored in 5-for-7 meets, Retrievers’ third best finisher at NCAA Regionals Blake Davis JR Falmouth, ME/Falmouth Team’s Unsung Hero Award, fourth best team time at NCAA Regionals Men’s Newcomers Athlete Year Hometown/HighSchool Russell Bauer FR Florham Park, NJ/ Paul Boardman FR Ocean City, NJ/ Nick Keane FR Anthony Kelhower FR Mt. Josh Okoniewski FR Lusby, MD/Patuxent