Clarion University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams recently wrapped up their 2002 campaigns.

The women’s team’s season ended with a 20^th place finish at the NCAA National meet, while the men’s team’s season came to a conclusion with a 14^th place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Region meet.

"Both teams had good seasons," ninth-year Clarion head coach Pat Mooney said. "The women did something no Clarion team has ever done, qualifying for the NCAA national meet. The men’s team, which was a very young squad, showed improvement throughout the year and ran its best race at the end of the season."

In one of the most successful if not the most successful women’s cross country season in school history, the Golden Eagles finished 20^th in the nation, second in the Atlantic Region and third in the PSAC while winning three of the five regular season meets it entered.

"What more can you say about this season?," Mooney said. "All of my student-athletes did a tremendous job. Our goal coming into the season was to qualify for the national meet, and we did that. Coming in third at the PSAC’s and second at the Regionals was something that had never been done. It was a great season."

The Golden Eagles had three runners earn All-Region honors and four earn All-PSAC honors.

The All-Region honorees were sophomore Melissa Terwilliger (8^th place - 24:24), freshman Ann Beck (9^th place - 24:29) and junior Evelyn Abiola (11^th place - 24:35).

Earning All-PSAC honors were Terwilliger (6^th place - 23:57.2), Abiola (11^th place - 24:12.1), junior Jen Boerner (12^th place - 24:16.4) and freshman Bridget Sardo (14^th place - 24:20.7).

"Those were both firsts for Clarion," Mooney said. "We have never had four All-PSAC or three All-Region runners before. That is just a testament to the runners. They all worked very hard to earn those honors and deserve them very much."

Terwilliger was the Golden Eagles top runner down the stretch finishing as Clarion’s No. 1 runner in the final four meets. In addition to her PSAC and Regional finishes, she came in 78^th at the NCAA meet (23:55).

"Melissa is a hard working runner," Mooney said. "She just got stronger and stronger as the year went on which is a credit to her off–season workout program."

Beck was Clarion’s top runner in the first four meets of the season, but an illness slowed her a bit in the second half of the year. She finished 45^th at PSAC’s (25:38.2) and 115^th at NCAA’s (24:33.7). "Considering everything Anna went through this year, to earn All-Region honors was something very special," Mooney said. "She was a real boast to our program this season. You will here a lot more about her in the next few seasons."

Abiola, a transfer, took a few races to adjust to running at Clarion, but once she adjusted she was sensational finishing as the No. 2 runner in 3 of the final 4 meets. She finished 98^th at NCAA’s (24:18.3).

"Evelyn really came on strong down the stretch," Mooney said. "She was one of the keys to us finishing so well at PSAC’s and Regionals."

Boerner had a solid season for the Eagles as well finishing as one of Clarion’s top three runners in five of the eight races. She was 23^rd at Regional’s (25:13) and 110^th at NCAA’s (24:30.0).

"Jen was the first piece of the puzzle we brought in three years ago," Mooney said. "She has been a steady runner for us, and she ran very well this season."

Sardo ran in the middle of the Golden Eagle pack for most of the season, but put together her best races at PSAC’s, Regional’s and NCAA’s. She was 16^th at Regional’s (24:52) and 103^rd at NCAA’s (24:25.2).

"Bridget really stepped up her game in the big meets," Mooney said. "She ran very well at the three championship events. Hopefully she will be able to build on that and continue that success next year."

Three runners in addition to the award winners also were key contributors for Clarion in 2002.

Senior captain Kate Szafran finished in the top seven in all eight races. She finished 28^th at PSAC’s (25:08.6), 35^th at Regional’s (25:43) and 144^th at NCAA’s (25:11.6).

"Kate was a great leader and a dedicated runner," Mooney said. "She came to Clarion to swim and ended up running cross country. She is an extremely hard worker and is the best captain I have had at Clarion. She was like an assistant coach. We are going to miss her next season."

Katie Jarzab, a freshman, was in the top seven runners in seven of Clarion’s eight races. She was 25^th at PSAC’s (24:56.3), 19^th at Regional’s (24:58) and 128^th at NCAA’s (24:44.4).

"Katie had a solid season," Mooney said. "She was a large part of our success, because we had seven runners who were capable of being No. 1 on any given day. Her future is very bright. She was another reason we were able to do so well at PSAC’s and Regionals."

Sarah Rodgers, a junior, provided depth for the Eagles finishing in the top seven in two of the races. She was 32^nd at PSAC’s (25:16.0).

"Sarah was a real key for us because she gave us an option when someone was hurt or sick," Mooney said. "She would be a top seven runner on many PSAC teams, and has a great shot at moving into the top seven next season if she continues to work hard. She was an alternate for the NCAA meet, and gained valuable experience from that."

Youth was the order of the day for the 2002 Clarion men’s cross country team with four of the Golden Eagles top seven runners were freshmen.

And while that youth showed at times, the Golden Eagles were able to put together their best race of the season at the Atlantic Regionals finishing 14^th one week after placing 12^th at the PSAC’s.

"It was an up-and-down season, but we were able to finish strong," Mooney said. "That is what was important. With such a young team, you look more at how they improve meet-to-meet than how they finish. We were able to show improvement each week, and we ran our best at the end of the season."

A.J. Mayernik was the Golden Eagles top runner in four of Clarion’s seven races including the final three. He finished 51^st at PSAC’s (28:51.5) and 49^th at Regional’s (35:10).

"A.J. had a very solid season for us," Mooney said. "He was one of the leaders on a very young team."

Chris Noal was Clarion’s No. 2 runner in five of the meets and the Eagles No. 1 runner once. He finished 67^th at PSAC’s (29:40.1) and 73^rd at Regional’s (36:24).

"Chris really worked hard to get where he is at," Mooney said. "This was his first year in the top seven runners. To finish as our No. 2 runner was great. He is a testament to what hard work can do for a runner."

Matt Andreassi ended the season as Clarion’s No. 3 runner. Andreassi was 77^th at PSAC’s (29:59.3) and 86^th at Regional’s (37:07).

"Matt had a solid freshman season," Mooney said. "The future is very bright for him."

Matt Reinhold and Aaron Neely finished the year battling for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots. Reinhold finished 92^nd at PSAC’s (30:50) and 88^th at Regional’s (37:16), while Neely was 90^th at PSAC’s (30:45.8) and 92^nd at Regional’s (37:30).

"Both Matt and Aaron had good seasons," Mooney said. "They were very competitive and are a part of what is a very promising freshmen class."

Senior captain John Snyder had a good season as well finishing as the Eagles No. 3 runner three times. He finished 96^th at PSAC’s in a time of 31:25.9

"John was a good captain for a very young team," Mooney said. "We will miss him next season as a runner and as a leader."

Freshman Matt Hartsock was Clarion’s No. 1 runner in two of the first four meets but missed finishing in the final three meets because of an injury.

"Matt started the year out very strong," Mooney said. "But he got hurt and that kept him from ending the year on a high note. But he was a very important part of our team, and will be key member next year as well."

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: PSAC’s were held at Edinboro, Regionals at Davis & Elkins (W. Va.) and NCAA’s at Ashland (Ohio) ... To earn PSAC or All-Region honors a runner must finish in the top 15 ... The top three women’s team at Regional’s qualified for the PSAC’s. IUP was first, Clarion second and Edinboro third ... Clarion and Edinboro flip-flopped positions at PSAC’s ... The highest women’s finish at PSAC’s prior to this season under Mooney was a sixth-place ending in 1997.

by Chris Rossetti