Aug. 18, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
It may be possible the fiercest competition members of the Maryland women's cross country team will face this season could come from within. With lineup spots up for grabs after the graduation of an experienced senior class, the battles for those positions could be tougher than what the Terps might face from other schools.
The Terrapins are coming off arguably their best team finish in some time. Maryland placed seventh among the 12-team field at last year's Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. The Terps bested the most teams in the field at the ACCs since a third-place finish in 1988.
To help continue that momentum, the coaching staff will take the preseason workouts and the early part of the schedule to develop a lineup ready for the rest of the year. The departure of Erin Matyus, Christina Nelson, Kristin Reed and Lindsay Ritchings will mean the opening of positions in the lineup.
Fourth-year seniors Ashley Campbell, Angeli Sivaraman and Andrea Rothschild will provide the Terps with experience for 2010. Campbell ran in the fourth and fifth position much of 2009, but was the second Terp to the finish line behind Reed at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional last year when Maryland placed sixth. Campbell had three top-10 finishes last year individually.
Sivaraman has been consistent throughout her cross country career for the Terrapins and was Maryland's third finisher at last year's ACCs and fourth at the regional. Sivaraman's best finish of 2009 individually was an eighth at the Great American Festival. Rothschild ran in all six events a year ago, with her best finish being a 14th at the Wolfpack Invitational.
Senior sisters Ashlyn and Halsey Sinclair are in their second season in College Park after transferring from Radford University. Halsey had three top-20 finishes last year. Ashlyn had a strong showing on the track last season in the steeplechase. Danielle Karagannis, another senior, had two top-20 finishes early last season.
Ashley Cromartie is the lone junior on this year's team and returns after two top-15 finishes early last year.
Julie Fricke leads a talented group of sophomores on this year's team. Fricke opened her collegiate career with three straight top-10 finishes and ran anywhere from second to sixth on the team a year ago. Christy Goldmann, Anna Roth and Kerry Nisson gained valuable experience as freshmen last year.
As with the men's side, recruiting went very well for the Terrapins in the spring. In fulfilling its goal of keeping top local talent in-state, Maryland will have one of its top freshman classes in recent memory doing battle for top spots in the lineup, with nine student-athletes making their collegiate debuts in 2010.
Becky Yep has an individual state title to her credit after winning the 3,200 for Mount Hebron High School last spring. She will be joined by Kallie Fehr of Elkton, Md., Maryam Fikri from Churchill High School, Lauren Sumner of Clarksburg High and Bridget Nolan from Linganore. Corie Gethard, Caitlin Orr, Jessica Tobin and Julie Sinkovitz also add to this outstanding freshman class.
Maryland opens its 2010 schedule on Sept. 3 at the Mount Saint Mary's Duals. The Terps compete at the ACC Championships on Oct. 30 at Boston College and will have the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 13 hosted by Penn State.
