As XC Season Begins, the Fight for Top 7 in On

Just a few days away from the start of the 2013 cross country campaign, Villanova's 7-deep at the top of the roster looks pretty much set -- except for the final spot.  Villanova returns five of its top-7 harriers from last year's squad -- losing stalwarts Mathew Mildenhall and Matt Kane to graduation and lack of eligibility (see 2012 chart below).  Added to the returning five is promising freshman Patrick Tiernan (a three-time Australian national cross country champion as a junior).  Tiernan figures to be among the top 3 runners on Villanova's team this season, especially as the races get longer at the end of the season, joining fellow compatriots Sam McEntee and Jordy Williamsz.  Sitting in the #4 spot (but pressing Williamsz at #3) looks to be Canadian Rob Denault, while returners Alex Tully and Brian Basili seems ready to fill the 5-6 slots.  That leaves the competition for the final spot on the squad for the end-of-the-year competitions (NCAA regionals and nationals).  Based on last year's performances, the #7 spot seems to wide open.  In play for that spot are returners Dusty Solis, Chris O'Sullivan, Tom Trainer, Harry Warnick, and Kevin Corbusier (Greg Morrin, who graduated, but had one more year of eligibility, is not on the 2013 roster).  Newcomer Ben Malone, primarily an 800 meter / mile specialist, might also enter the fray.  The exact mix of runners at the top of the squad, of course, will reveal itself soon enough, as the team gets through the first few events.

2013 Cross Country Schedule

09/13/13  Big Five Invitational        Philadelphia, Pa.  
09/26/13  Main Line Invitational       Haverford, Pa.  
10/05/13  Chile Pepper Festival        Fayetteville, Ark.  
10/19/13  Princeton Invitational       Princeton, N.J.  
11/02/13  BIG EAST Championships       Kenosha, Wis.  
11/15/13  NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional   Bethlehem, Pa.  
11/23/13  NCAA Championships           Terre Haute, Ind.

Here's the finishing order on the Villanova squad for the team during last year's campaign.

2012 XC Campaign	Main Line 4 mi	Paul Short 8K	Pre-Nats 8K	Big East 8K	NCAA Reg 10K	NCAA Nats 10K	2013 Eligible?
Sam McEntee	1	1	DNF	1	1	3
Matt Mildenhall	3	2	1	2	4	1	No
Jordy Williamsz	2	3	3	4	2	4
Rob Denault	DNS	5	2	3	5	5
Matt Kane	5	6	4	7	7	2	No
Alex Tully	4	8	7	5	3	6
Brian Basili	6	7	5	6	6	7
Greg Morrin	7	4	6	8	DNS	DNS	Out
John Pickhaver	8	9	8	9	DNS	DNS	Transfer
Tom Trainer	9	12	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Chris O’Sullivan	10	13	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Harry Warnick	11	11	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Kevin Corbusier	12	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Dan Harris	13	16	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Dusty Solis	14	10	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Chris Pietrocarlo	15	15	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Charlie Bates	16	14	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Robert Hurlbut	17	17	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Josh Lampron	18	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS
Andrew Golato	19	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	No
Richie Bohny	20	18	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS