Friday October 26, 2001

Although it seems that the season just began, the UA men and women's cross country teams are heading to Scottsdale this weekend for the Pac-10 conference championships.

Both the UA's men's and women's squads are hoping to emerge near the top of the highly competitive fields at the Pavilion Lakes Golf Course, hosted by Arizona State.

After finishing no worse than third in two meets this season, the UA women are poised to contest with national powerhouses Stanford and ASU this weekend.

The cast of Wildcat runners this year has been led by senior Tara Chaplin's first- and third-place finishes. Following close behind Chaplin throughout the season have been sophomore Beth Hoge and senior Erin Doherty.

Senior Jennifer Burris and junior Kim Bates round out a consistent top five for the Wildcats - a squad that should receive a tremendous lift from the return of senior Abby Peters.

Peters - an all-American distance runner at Boise State in 1999 - runs for the first time as a Wildcat this weekend after a nerve injury in her hip sidelined her for much of the fall.

UA head coach Dave Murray said the addition of Peters could help push a talented Wildcats team ahead of their competition in Scottsdale.

"We're going to the meet thinking as ourselves as a contender for the top spot," Murray said. "Abby will be a factor this week, but much more in the weeks to come.

"Right now everyone - on both teams - is running well. I am really pleased with our conditioning."

If the Wildcats can maintain the focus they demonstrated earlier this season, Hoge said the team realizes they have as good of a shot as anyone to capture the Pac-10 title.

"We have an excellent chance if everyone runs together and pushes each other," Hoge said. "We have a lot of confidence, and getting Abby back is only going to help us. She's a big part of the team."

On the men's side, the Wildcats continue to look for a consistent leader this season.

The number one spot has been occupied by junior Kyle Goklish, freshman Mark Anderson and senior Steve Smith during the three meets this season. Senior Mike Cramer has been a constant in the team's number two spot. While senior Tom Prindiville's ailing back has slowed him down, it has not prevented him from consistently finishing in the top five.

After receiving its first break of the season last weekend, the men's team hopes two solid weeks of intense training will pay dividends as it attempts to compete with perennial conference favorite, Stanford.

The Wildcats will also be keeping an eye on talented squads from ASU and Oregon during the conference championships.

"We have had some very good training during the last 10 days," Murray said. "Obviously I want to win, but if we finish anywhere in the top three, I'll be pleased."

The Wildcats do not have to look very far into the past for signs of encouragement. It was only two years ago that a determined UA men's squad caught overwhelming favorite Stanford off-guard and captured the conference title.

"We have to be realistic; Stanford is the favorite," Murray said. "But I would never say that we do not have a chance, because it has happened before."