By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 28, 1997

Skieresz who?

Dan Hoffman Arizona Daily Wildcat Robert Walker, University Photo Center photographer, prepares members of the UA cross-country team for their team photograph. The team's first meet is Sept. 6 at the Jammin' Invitational in Brea, California.

Lest it be forgotten, in addition to junior Amy Skieresz, there are 16 other individuals who will be running for the Arizona cross country team this season.

It is easy to think that the Wildcats begin and end with Skieresz, who won the NCAA cross country title last season and then went on to win three track and field championships, becoming the first athlete in NCAA history to win four national titles in one year.

The question is, does having such a high-caliber athlete like Skieresz, who receives considerable media and public attention, detract from or benefit her teammates?

"I think it could be bad," Skieresz said. "From a team perspective it might be a little frustrating."

Her teammates, however, disagree.

"I think it's beneficial to both teams," freshman David Lopez said. "It helps with her bringing in all the (attention)."

While Skieresz receives most of the press, the rest of the Wildcats are focused on staying healthy and preparing to challenge perennial power Stanford for the Pacific 10 Conference title.

"I'm sure Arizona will be very good," Stanford cross country head coach Vin Lananna said. "Coach Murray always puts a strong team out there."

Returning for the women, besides Skieresz, are seniors Tone Bratteng, Virginia Camacho and Kelly Chavez, plus sophomores Kristin Parrish and Maia Wright. New to the team are freshmen Erin Doherty and Katrin Engelen.

Expectations are high for the women, according to UA head coach Dave Murray.

"We're anticipating having an even better season," he said. "We've finished sixth (at NCAA championships) two years in a row. That's not bad, but I think we can do better."

While Skieresz has to deal with endless questions, her teammates have the pressure of bringing the entire squad up to her standards of excellence.

The Wildcats must also overcome the loss of two of their top runners from last season. Viola Schaffer graduated and Emily Nay transferred to Brigham Young.

The pressure is on Camacho, who was the Wildcats' No. 4 or 5 runner last year. This year she is expected to contend for the No. 2 spot, a challenge she said that she is up to.

"This is the first season I can't use the kid as an excuse," Camacho said, referring to her three-year-old son, who caused her to redshirt one year.

Last season Camacho posted five top-20 finishes and came in 11th at the District VIII Championships.

"I feel like I'm in real good shape. I spent the summer running distance a lot," she said.

As for her feelings about Skieresz receiving all the news, Camacho disagreed with Skieresz's opinion about the team's reaction.

"It makes it nice," Camacho said. "My freshman year we had a better overall team and we won District VIII, but we didn't get as much attention. She helps by getting us in the spotlight in addition to helping by winning every time."

Even Tucson native Doherty, one of the two recruits beginning this year, doesn't believe that Skieresz's fame hampers the team.

Dan Hoffman Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Erin Doherty is one of two new members of the women's cross-country team.

"It gives us all a lot of attention," she said. "It's cool to run with her cause I've heard so much about her."

"She's a strong role model for both the men's and women's teams (at Arizona)," Lananna said. "Amy is fantastic, we have enormous respect for her."

The men don't feel bad about Skieresz's domination of the headlines, either.

"She definitely gives Arizona a good name," freshman Tom Prindiville said. "The thing is, at practice I know she's gonna whoop my ass, too. She pushes the guys 'cause she's so good."

Last season the Wildcat men were hampered by injuries to the point where they didn't even qualify for the NCAA Championships.

They will be strengthened by the return of senior Margarito Casillas, who was forced to redshirt last season due to injuries.

Casillas and Jeff Lansa are the only seniors among the men, with junior Jeff McLarty the other upperclassman. They will be joined by sophomores Micheil Jones and Jeremy Lyon, redshirt freshman Demian Quiroz, plus freshmen Brian Henstorpf, David Lopez, Mike Cramer and Prindiville.

If all goes well, junior Abdi Abdirahman may also start for the Wildcats, providing he can become academically eligible after transferring from Pima Community College.

"We might not have an Amy," Casillas said. "But we're all pretty much at the same level. I think we'll be good as an overall team."

Lost amid all the talk about herself, Skieresz did not have much to say about the upcoming season. Well, other than the fact that she'd like "to redo it all again."

"It's gonna be a tough year," she said. "But I'm excited, and I definitely think we (the women's team) are capable of sixth or better at nationals."

The "tough year" begins for Skieresz and the rest of the Wildcats on Sept. 6 at the Jammin' Invitational in Brea, Calif.