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1999 Delaware Men's Cross Country Quick Facts Location Newark, DE 19716 Founded 1743 Enrollment 16,110 Nickname Fightin' Blue Hens Colors Royal Blue and Gold Conference America East Affiliation NCAA Division I President Dr. David P. Roselle NCAA Faculty Representative Dr. John L. Burmeister Athletic Director Edgar N. Johnson Senior Associate Athletic Director Mary Ann Hitchens Associate Athletic Director, Programs &
Facilities Kate Pohlig Assistant Athletic Director, Business Scott Eatough Assistant Athletic Director, NCAA
Compliance Sue Groff Sports Information Director Scott Selheimer(XC Contact) Assistant Sports Information Director Mike Hirschman Sports Information Intern Kevin Linton Sports Info Office Phone/Fax 302-831-2186/302-831-8653 Selheimer's Home Phone 302-368-8639 Blue Hens Sports Hotline 302-831-8139 Sports Information E-mail UD Athletics Website http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo Head Coach Jim Fischer (Augsburg College
'70) Coaching Record 102-69, 17 seasons Men's Cross Country Office Phone 302-831-8846 Assistant Coach Dave Geesaman (Delaware '99), 1st
year 1998 Record 0-3, 2nd Place, America East
Championships 1999 Captains Troy Bockius, Mike DiGennaro, Mike
Pugilisi, Matt McNally Letterwinners Returning/Lost 9/6 Home Field White Clay Creek State Park (5
miles) All-Time Record 307-190-2 (56 seasons since
1919) NCAA Tournament Appearances None Conference Titles 1 Last Conference Title 1962
1999 Delaware Men's Cross Country Outlook
Despite Rash of Injuries, Blue Hen Harriers Looking for Successful Season
The injury-bug has bit the University of Delaware men's cross country team early in 1999. Of head coach Jim Fischer's expected top seven runners, five will miss some or all of the season with injuries ranging from knee surgery, to mononucleosis, to chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition, Fischer's top freshman recruit, Pat Riley, will also miss his rookie season with an injury. But Fischer, who will enter his 18th season as head coach in 1999, is not giving in. Backed by standout junior Mike DiGennaro and a balanced class of runners, Fischer insists that the Blue Hens should not be counted out so easily. "If we had everyone healthy, we can be as strong as any team in America East," said Fischer, who returns nine letterwinners from last year's team that placed second at the America East championships behind New Hampshire, the best ever finish by a Blue Hen team in the league meet. "But we still can be very successful. It's a long process. We hope to get some of the injuries out of the way during the season. But it will be a learning year. Despite everything, we still hope to do well." DiGennaro, who placed third at the America East championships a year ago, the best finish by a UD runner since 1962, is back to lead the squad, but the Hens must replace current assistant coach Dave Geesaman, a CoSIDA Academic All-American who placed fourth at the conference meet each of the past two seasons, and tri-captain Jeremy Muratore, who was ninth at the league meet in 1998. DiGennaro, the America East 3,000m steeplechase runner-up during the 1999 outdoor season, led the Hens four times during the 1998 season, including a Towson Invitational co-title, a second place finish at the Delaware Invitational, and a 41st place finish at the NCAA District II meet. Among the other returnees, quad-captains Troy Bockius (15th at 1998 America East meet), Mike Puglisi (16th), and Matt McNally (21st) are all expected to miss all or most of the 1999 season. Bockius has a hamstring injury, McNally has a knee injury, and Puglisi is out due to chronic fatigue. Junior Paul Visentin (mononucelosis) could also miss the entire season. That leaves just DiGennaro, senior Mark Dawson, and junior Robb Munro as runners expected to compete this season after taking part in the America East championships a year ago. Dawson placed 35th overall while Munro was 45th. Other returning letterwinners are sophomores Nick Barresi and Peter Kelly, and junior Joe Quigley. Quigly is the defending America East indoor 1,000 meter champion. Among the newcomers, Fischer expects big things from freshman Pat Boettcher, a two-time All-State pick from nearby William Penn HS, and sophomore Tony Palmer, a transfer from Stockton (NJ) State. The Blue Hens will take part in eight regular season meets, including host Delaware Invitationals Sept. 18 and Oct. 9. The Hens will compete at the America East championships Oct. 31 where they will try to finish in the top three for the fifth time in the last six years and hopefully crack the top two for the first time since 1984.
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