2004 Westfield Girls Cross Country Preview

For many high school students summer vacation is a time of easy living andcarefree days, filled with vacations, barbecues and trips to swimming pools andthe beach. But the runners at the top track programs like Westfield know thathard summer workouts in the searing heat is what makes the difference when thecold November winds usher in the championship meets.

Even though they recovered strongly last year from their first dual meet lossin 83 matches to win the Union County championship, the Westfield Girls CrossCountry team seemed to have extra focus to work harder this summer according todistance coach Jen Buccino.

“While losing the dual meet streak was extremely disappointing to the girlslast year, it also made them stronger. They have an intense desire to maintainour team's tradition of success that was set by the girls that ran before them. They are well aware that they have competition to face, and they respect thetalents of their opponents,” said Buccino herself a championship road racer.

”They worked hard this summer, worked hard at running camp in the Poconos, andhad a strong showing at our first week of formal practice. They know that tobe the team that wins comes down to who worked the hardest and wanted it themost. and they are willing to do all that they can to be that team,” addedBuccino who assists long time head coachThomas Hornish.

Buccino credits her four senior captains, Annie Onishi, Sarah Masel, Ali Rodinoand Katie Cole-Kelly for inspiring the team during the summer. “They workedvery hard organizing fun runs every day to accommodate all kinds of summerschedules that the kids on the team have,” said Buccino. The Blue Devils lost Deenie Quinn, Dorothy Chou, Mary Kate Maher and IrinaSheremetyeva from their top eight runners but have a wealth of returning talent and a multitude of eager girlsvying for the other top spots. Onishi, Meg Driscoll, Rachel Barrett and KimLegones lead the returnees.

Driscoll and Onishi along with Emily MacNeill weremembers of a championship Blue Devil four by 800 relay team last year. MacNeill would be a top runner on the team except that she co-captains thesoccer team as a returning all Union County sweeper. Buccino accepts that not every good cross-country runner competes.

”Yes, there are track athletes that are playing other sports in the fall, thatwe would like to have on our team. And yes, they would probably benefit fromthe distance running we do in cross-country during the winter and springseasons on track. However, we do not begrudge them their talents in othersports, and can accept their decisions to play something else during the fallseason,” said Buccino.

Onishi and Driscoll are leading the workouts but Buccino happily sees a largepack of girls pushing them.Among them are veterans. Erin McCloskey, Jillian Hobson, Carly Oliff, and JayneRuotolo. “They worked hard this summer in hopes of earning a varsity spot thisyear,” said Buccino.There was also a strong core of freshmen that moved through the ranks andgained valuable experience not only last season, but also in track, and shouldhelp add depth to this year's team.

They include Jen Danielsson, NicoleDiBenedetto, Ayn Wisler, Beth Budnick and Meg Buttrick. There are also some new additions to the team that are proving themselves daily at practice, andcould prove to be key players as the season progresses, senior. Anne Siwulec,junior Caitlyn Berkowitz and freshmen Marissa Mumford, and Rose Driscoll, Meg’ssister. The Blue Devils open their season in the St. Dominic's Invitational on Sept11th at Lincoln Park. Their first dual meet is Sept. 15th against Irvington,Newark East Side and Elizabeth at Branch Brook Park in Newark. Home meets areheld at Tamaques Park