The Alabama State University cross country program will feature several returners along with talented newcomers to both the men's and women's squads this season.
Rebuilding with high expectations is how third-year head coach Ritchie Beene describes the 2010 edition of the men's program.
“This will be a rebuilding season for us but that does not mean we do not expect the runners to perform on a high level,” Beene said. “We have established a base with this program to be one of the top programs in this conference and to consistently compete for the SWAC Championship, and we expect to do that again this year.”
The Hornets will have to replace one of the best runners in the SWAC from last season in Robert Gunn, who received All-SWAC honors following his fourth-place finish at the SWAC Championships.
ASU returns four runners from last season's team that finished third at the SWAC Championships. Senior Jephtah Kenei is one runner Beene is looking at to provide leadership for the Hornets. Kenei earned All-SWAC honors last season after finishing fifth at the SWAC Championship.
ASU will add two newcomers to the program in Albert Florvil, and Jerrell Mumford. Both runners are solid mid-distance runners and will be working on expanding their distances and times in cross country runs.
The women's team will be returning five runners from a 2010 second place finish at the SWAC Championships.
“We have a strong group of runners returning on the girl's team,” Beene said. “I know anything can happen over the course of a season, but I expect us to be very competitive against good programs like Prairie View and Mississippi Valley State.”
Keisha Derilus returns for her junior season after winning the 2009 SWAC Championship and along with it, she was named the Cross Country Female Athlete of the Year.
Raheema Hodges returns for her sophomore season after garnering Second Team All-SWAC honors last season as does junior Lutrisha Altidor, who was also named second team All-SWAC.
The coaching staff is looking for senior Simone Buford to have a solid final campaign. She showed great improvement over the course of last season and really blossomed into a strong runner during the spring. Breana Kelly is back for her junior season and also showed great improvement over the course of the season and also had a strong off-season of training.
A strong nucleus of five first-year runners will join the team this season. Lariva Calhoun, Shanel Foy, Isis Land, Soyoung Smith and transfer Courtney Gooch all have a lot of talent and should be solid performers in their first years at ASU.
The ASU cross country season opens Sept. 4 at the Troy University Opener in Troy, Ala. The meet is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
-Hornets-
