Notre Dame cross country heads to Central Collegiate Championships

Central Collegiates Provide Development Opportunities for the Irish.

Irish will send "B" teams to compete in Kalamazoo, Mich., this weekend.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- (9-27-01)

Central Collegiate Preview:  The Irish will use the Central Collegiate
Championships this weekend to give their top runners a rest, while the
other harriers on the roster get a chance to move into the top eight on the
team going into the championship meet season.

The Central Collegiates, hosted by Western Michigan University in
Kalamazoo, Mich., will feature the Notre Dame men's "B" team, as the top
six runners on the nationally fourth ranked team will take the weekend off.
All-Americans Ryan Shay and Luke Watson, who combined with sophomore Todd
Mobley to take the first three spots in last weekend's National Catholic
Invitational and lead the team to an overall victory, will  rest this
weekend, as will other top runners seniors Pat Conway and Marc Striowski,
and sophomores David Alber and Brian Kerwin.

Resting these top runners will allow  some of the more inexperienced Irish
to test their legs in a varsity race, and will help the team solidify the
important seventh and eighth man spots.

Sophomore Brian Kerwin, who has run with the varsity team for both of this
year's races and placed 11th in last weekend's National Catholic
Championships, will be expected to lead the Irish, as will sophomore Mario
Bird, who placed 16th last weekend.

Other Irish runners, such as freshman Sean O'Donnell, who was the runner up
in last weekend's junior varsity race, and Tom Weiler, fifth in the same
race, are possible contenders for these seven and eight man spots.

For the Irish women, this weekend's meet will likewise  provide a chance
for some top runners to rest and others to take on the varsity spots.

Coming off of a successful National Collegiate Championships last weekend,
placing second of second of 26 teams, the women look to gain experience and
strength this weekend for the Notre Dame Invitational the following week.

Junior Jen Handley, who finished first last weekend, along with sophomore
Megan Johnson, third at the National Catholic Championships, and freshman
Kristi Arnerich, who has placed well for the Irish in both of this season's
meets, continue to lead the Irish, and look to improve upon the team's
already strong meet showings.



Alan Wasielewski, Publicity Assistant
University of  Notre Dame Sports Information
112 Joyce Center, Second Floor
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(219) 631-3397/(219) 631-7941 (fax)
cell phone: 219-315-5746
E-mail: [email protected]

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