The Colgate men’s cross country team will be looking to improve upon a year in which they placed second at the IC4A Championships and third in the Patriot League. Art McKinnon, Colgate’s Director of Cross Country, is optimistic that the team will improve upon the success of the 2000 season.

With the loss of captains Tim McCusker, JR Board and Matt Coseo, the team will be looking forward to big improvements from their returning upper-class runners in order to further improve upon the team’s ranking in the Patriot League, IC4A Championships and the NCAA Qualifier. The Colgate men’s team returns four of its top seven runners from last season. They will be led by senior captains Chris Sweetland, with a personal best cross country time of 26:03, and Mike Martocci, a top miler with a personal best of 4:05.40 for 1500 meters. They will be supported by a young and talented group of sophomores, including Louie DiNuzzo, freshman record holder at 5K 15:12 with a personal best cross country time of 25:32; Xavier deBoissezon, with a personal best cross country time of 25:33; Travis Brooks, with a personal best cross country time of 26:07; Ian Hill, with a personal best cross country time of 26:35; and Greg Smith, who represented Colgate at the World Junior Trials in Vancouver, Washington where the team finished in 3rd place.

Three sophomores are expected to join the team for the first time, Patrick Crawford, Kyle Barrett and Outstanding First year Track Athlete Mike Saunders. There are five incoming freshman runners who, by their high school successes, should contribute and help to continue the competitiveness of the men’s team in the Patriot League. They include Jon Barinholtz of Chicago Ill., Chris Burns of Silver Springs Md., Jon Lebovitz of Wilmette Ill, Robert Van Dine of Binghamton N.Y., and Jeremy Wattles of Clay, N.Y.

Academically, the team achieved a grade point average of 3.09 in 2000 and earned all-American Academic honors. The team will be working in 2001 to exceed their 2000 athletic and academic performances.