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Fitchburg State Building Towards Another MASCAC Title

The Fitchburg State cross country team entered the 2010 season with some added pressure as the Falcons have boasted a top two, MASCAC finish over the past two season. Ranked third and fifth in the 2010 MASCAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll, Fitchburg State has set their sights on another top three finish.

With three returning All-Conference honorees, Fitchburg State aims to build off each competition and use them as building blocks towards another MASCAC run. “We have two really strong teams this year” said 32nd year head coach Jim Jellison. “We have improved on both teams this pre-season, both time wise and athletically.”

MEN

This season, the Fitchburg State men’s cross country team is looking very strong as the team came into the preseason with a strong 1-2 punch. All-Conference candidates, junior Chris Kibler (Bath, Maine/Morse) and senior Matt Spano (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) look to anchor the men’s squad this season after posting a pair of top eight finishes in the 2009 MASCAC meet.

Kibler has started the 2010 season off strong, earning a pair of MASCAC Men’s Runner of the Week honors within the first four Invitational’s. He placed first overall at the Jim Sheehan Memorial, posting a school course record of 23:53.7 at Coggshall Park. Two weeks later, the junior runner notched his second weekly honor, reeling in a first place finish at the Worcester City Meet with a time of 28:30.3 over the 8K layout.

Spano joins Kibler atop the Fitchburg State runners after coming off a strong 2009 campaign. Last season, Spano earned his second All-Conference nomination, finishing first on the Falcons team (sixth overall) with a time of 27:14 at the MASCAC Championships. This year, the senior captain continues to make strides as he recently earned All-Star honors at the Worcester City Meet with a time of 29:34.

Sophomore Will Lary (Winchendon, Mass./Murdock) will be relied upon to fill the Fitchburg State three spot as the second-year member has continued to grow stronger. “Will is a strong three-man this year,” said Jellison. “If he continues to work hard, he may have a shot at earning All-Conference honors.”

Rounding out the Fitchburg State top five is sophomore Mike Grasela (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) and classmate Patrick Lucas (Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan). After one year of collegiate running under their belt, the pair has proven to be among the elite runners in the MASCAC and will be crucial in the Falcons drive for the crown.

Veterans Adam Parslow (West Boylston, Mass./West Boylston) and Everette Pankey (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) will add depth to the men’s squad this year, while newcomers Larry Teague (Tyngsboro, Mass./Greater Lowell) and Chris Ross (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) are expected to put forth a solid rookie season.


WOMEN

Sparking the path for the Fitchburg State women’s cross country team will be the duo of graduate Linda Fortunato (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) and junior Katie Page (Beverly, Mass./Beverly). Last season, the two proved to be Fitchburg State’s top runners and this year the pair has shown big improvements, moving up among the All-Conference candidates.

As a freshman, Page enjoyed great success at Fitchburg State posting two, top-ten finishes including a sixth place showing in the MASCAC Championships (All-Conference honoree). The junior runner looks to regain her rookie form this season, while Fortunato continues to become stronger, posting a fifth place finish at the Jim Sheehan Memorial with a time of 22:20.

Sophomore Emily Lane (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) will also make an immediate impact for the Falcons this season as she expected to crack the top three on the Falcons squad. Lane, a standout freshman a year ago, has started the 2010 campaign off hot, posting a pair of tenth place finishes at the Jim Sheehan Memorial and Worcester City Meet.

Senior captain Erin Abbott (Warwick, Mass./Pioneer Valley) , proving great athletic ability, while junior Katy Scott (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) and classmate Lisa Dias (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) round out the returning veterans.

Rounding out the women’s squad this season are newcomers Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Regional), Kara Reynolds (Agawam, Mass./Pioneer Valley) and Felicia Nephew (Grafton, Mass./Blackstone Valley). Fitzgerald possesses great athletic ability, serving as a two-sport athlete at Fitchburg State, while Reynolds and Nephew have shown great potential throughout their first four meets.

SCHEDULE

The 2010 schedule looks to be very competitive for the Falcons as a couple of athletes are eyeing the NCAA Regional’s. “Every meet this year, we will run with a purpose,” said Jellison. “We will see a lot of MASCAC schools early on at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, giving us plenty of time to train for the Championships. The Falcons opened their season with four local meets at Keene State, Fitchburg State, UMass Dartmouth and Worcester, before racing at the All New England Championships at Franklin Park.

“This year we have set some high goals for ourselves. We are looking to finish in the top 3, but with the MASCAC being so strong, the top three is always a tossup.”