By Taylor Nigrelli
Assistant Sports Editor
In 1993 St. Bonaventure finished seventh of eight teams at Atlantic 10 Championships. Since then, teams have finished last every year.
The Bonnies are attempting to break that streak Saturday when they travel to Philadelphia to participate in the meet at the Belmont Plateau. Coach Macfarlane said this meet will show the progress the team has made in his three years as coach.
“We need to look at where we’re beginning to fall in place,” Macfarlane said. “We’ve done very well throughout the year, both the men’s and women’s teams. Now we need to see where we are when it comes to the A-10s.”
Sophomore Steven Kibbe echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“The team hopes to place higher than it did last year and move from the bottom,” Kibbe said. “This is our most important race of the season and the one we have been working toward all year.”
Macfarlane believes the Bonnies have the potential to move up in the A-10 ranks, but knows it will take a total team effort.
“We’re stronger as five together, we don’t have a stud,” Macfarlane said. “We need everyone to run their best and let the chips fall where they may.”
The team received some positive news this week when they learned sophomore Nick Masiello, who finished first for the Bonnies in the first three races, will compete Saturday. The Grand Island native has been struggling with a leg injury. Macfarlane said he was impressed with Masiello’s toughness and expects him to compete for a top spot, even while still recovering.
“Yeah his shins hurt, but he’s doing it for the team,” Mcfarlane said. “That shows you the kind of guys we have. He should still be in the top three for our team and don’t be surprised if he is number one.”
Only 10 members of each team are permitted to compete in the race, with only five runners counting for scoring purposes. This means the men’s team will leave sophomore’s Dan Egan and Nick Taylor behind. The women’s team will be without sophomores Morgan Mayo and Emily Steves, who are again out with injuries.
The Belmont Plateau course is the hilliest and likely toughest course the team will run all season, according to Kibbe.
“The course is one of the most famous in the country,” Kibbe said.” It’s a truly difficult cross country course.”
Macfarlane is confident the team is prepared to deal with the hilly terrain.
“You have to be smart going uphill, you can’t over-stride, and you can’t overrun,” Macfarlane said. “We’ve been working on maintaining pace in practice, shortening our stride and staying positive while going up the hill. On the downhill you open up your strides, and that’s when you pass people.”
According to Macfarlane, the team will be better prepared for this race than the last hilly course at George Mason.
“We’ve been doing a lot of practicing to deal with a hilly course,” Macfarlane said. “Getting the team mentally prepared for the race is more important than anything because physically, they’re set.”
Although Belmont Plateau isn’t the easiest of courses, Macfarlane isn’t at all opposed to having his team run it.
“What’s important to remember is that for every uphill, there’s a downhill,” Macfarlane said.
