M. cross country opens season with second-place finish at Invite

During the past three years, winning has proven to be an instinct for the men's cross country team. Last season the Tigers captured their third straight IC4A championship, third consecutive Heps title and outlasted a 32-team field in a race in Auburn, Ala., to finish in first place. Under head coach Mike Brady, Princeton has also dominated Ivy League competition.

They're just not used to doing it without their front runner, junior Paul Morrison. Morrison, who earned All-America honors last season with an eighth place finish at the NCAA championship, is out with a knee injury.

"We're all struggling, wondering if we're still as good as a team," senior Tensai Asfaw said.

The Tigers are also hoping to make up for the loss of All-Ivy team members Mike Spence '00 and Chris Banks '00 to graduation with a strong freshman class and improved performances from returning runners.

A strong showing Saturday at the Princeton Invitational proved that the team is up to the task. The Tigers finished second behind Oklahoma State in the five-team field.

Asfaw led the way with a fourth place finish in 24:39, the second fastest time ever run by a Tiger at the Princeton Battlefield. Junior Wes Stockard came in eighth for the Tigers followed by seniors Alex Hallett and Pat Anglin, in 14th and 15th places, respectively. Freshman Tristan Colangelo rounded out the Princeton top five with a 21st place finish.

"Between the third and fourth miles, we kept changing leaders," Asfaw said. "A couple of them nabbed me at the line."

For Asfaw, a top priority was trying to keep the team at his pace, especially since Morrison isn't around to lead the team.

"His absence has kind of spread the responsibility around," Asfaw said.

A share of that responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of the freshmen recruits, whom Asfaw describes as "phenomenal."

Colangelo has done well with his share of the burden, being the lone freshman to compete in the varsity race and finishing fifth for the team.

"I feel like I did well for my first meet," Colangelo said. "It feels good to be running in the top seven." Training all summer helped prepare Colangelo for the meet. The freshman spent the summer on campus training with Asfaw, Morrison, Anglin and senior Biren Roy. Anglin is looking for that training to pay off with a big improvement before the team's next race.

Get the best of ‘the Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"None of us have raced in the last four months," Anglin said. "We need to get back into the right mentality and push ourselves harder. After the first race, you're more aware of how important it is."

The team is looking to do big things this year. In addition to reclaiming their Ivy title, the Tigers hope to win their district meet to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA championship, where they would like to break into the top 10 after finishing tied for 19th last year.

"The team has really pulled together over the last three years," Asfaw said. "We haven't been defeated in the league. I don't see it happening this year."