After entering the 2005 season as the youngest squad in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Maryland men's cross country team spent much of the year "learning on the job," as the Terps gained valuable experience while showing significant team and individual improvement.

With a roster that featured just two returning upperclassmen (senior Dan Ryan and junior Matt Sanders), coach Dr. Michael Garrison was forced to look to a cast of talented freshman to make immediate contributions and step into leadership roles. One of the rookies to rise to the challenge was Tyler McCandless, who established himself as the team's most dangerous force on race day.

With 2004 All-Region selection Pete Hess out for the season recovering from a bout of mononucleosis, McCandless took the team's reigns, pacing the Terps at all seven meets.

In the squad's first competition of the year, the Great Meadows Invitational in The Plains, Va., Maryland ran to a fourth place finish out of six teams. McCandless finished eighth overall in his collegiate debut, crossing in 21:10.0. Classmate Richie Booth placed 23rd with a mark of 21:43.0.

At the Great American Cross Country Festival on Sept. 24, Maryland came in second place out of nine teams. McCandless led the way for the Terps in 25th, finishing the 8K course in 25:27.80. Also for Maryland, Sanders placed 33rd (25:27.10) and freshman Jake Travers came in 35th with a time of 26:03.30.

The Terps had two weeks off before heading to Bethlehem, Pa. for the prestigious Paul Short Invitational on Oct. 1. The Terps admittedly struggled in a deep and talented field, coming in 32nd out of 44 teams, but did record their lowest 1-5 split of the season (0:59.1).

Next up for Maryland was the Penn State National meet in State College, Pa. Led by McCandless, who finished 67th individually in 26:34.0, the Terps placed 25th out of 37 teams.

Following two weeks of training and preparation, the Terps headed to the always-competitive ACC Championship meet, where they would square against some of the best teams in nation, including Florida State and NC State. The Terps enjoyed a balanced attack, posting a 1-5 split of just 1:05.0. McCandless led the way in 46th place with a time of 25:14.70. He was followed on Maryland by Sanders in 59th place and freshman Zach Martinez, who ran hard to a 62nd place finish (25:39.0).

The final two meets of the season for the Terps were the NCAA Regional on Nov. 12 and the IC4A/ECAC meet Nov. 19. Running the same course they saw earlier at the Pau Short, the Terps placed 17th out of 28 teams at Regionals. McCandless finished 61st overall, crossing in 31:56.50.

In the season finale, a depleted Maryland squad ran to a 20th place finish at the IC4A/ECAC Championship in the Bronx, N.Y. McCandless came in 60th with a time of 26:10.90.

"I think the young guys really stepped up and it showed later in the season as they began to adjust to 800 meters," Garrison said. "Obviously Tyler led us for the season and he did a great job. Josh Davis showed a little bit of brilliance at times and Zach Martinez definitely came on late and ran well for us. Jake Travers was very steady for us.

"Obviously we would have liked to have finished better at the ACC meet and at the NCAA Regional, but I think that was a great learning experience for the kids. It was rough but what it does is help them understand what's required to win."