Aug. 29, 2003

College Park, Md. - On the surface, the 2003 men's cross country team appears to be quite similar to last year's squad, with Head Coach Trent Sanderson returning all his runners from last season. The group of familiar faces, coupled with increased off-season training, is expected to produce anything but similar results this season. Add four incoming freshman into the mix and expectations for the Terps' best finish yet are higher than ever.

Leading the team will be returning senior and 2003 captain Mike Prada, who was one of the Terps' top three finishers in each race he participated in last season. For the second consecutive year, his times placed him in the top 10 overall in two of those meets. Prada led the Terps in the 2002 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships with a 43rd-place finish out of nearly 200 runners.

Also playing a key role in the Terps' quest for success will be returning junior Adam Ambrus and incoming freshman Peter Hess. Ambrus, who had a breakout year last season, was the Terps' top finisher in four meets, earning overall top 10 honors on three of those occasions. Hess is at the forefront of a strong freshmen class after a standout career at Toms River High School in New Jersey. At the 2002 Shore Conference Championships, Hess broke the 21-year-old record for Holmdel Park of 15:41 with his time of 15:36.5-the fourth-fastest time ever recorded at the venue.

After four consecutive years of finishing in ninth place at the ACC Championships, the Terps pulled out of the hole last year to finish at No. 8. This year, the goal is to rise in the ranks yet again and finish the year around No. 5/6. Additionally, the team continues to work towards becoming a more competitive force in the conference and achieving a regional ranking.

Contributions to this goal could come from a number of runners this season. Junior Matt Adami was a steady force last season, often among Prada and Ambrus as the top three Terps finishers. Senior Doug Allen, junior Michael Fleg and sophomore Natty Zola also gave solid performances last year and are expected to improve on their times after a productive off-season. The incoming freshmen class of Hess, Patrick Bailey, Michael Porter and Matt Sanders are expected to contribute right away after successful high school careers.

The improvements seen during the 2002 campaign, combined with the desire to achieve even more produces a positive outlook for Sanderson and his 2003 team. With the experience from veterans like Prada and the zeal of newcomers such as Hess, all the ingredients are there for a successful season.

"We have an incredibly deep team," Sanderson said. "On any day, any person could be number one-that's what sets us apart and will give us the chance to really succeed."