Aug. 22, 2002

Carolina is coming off a disappointing 2001 cross-country season. The Tar Heels finished in eighth place at the ACC Championship and had two runners qualify for the NCAA District III Championship. No Carolina runners qualified for the NCAA Championship. Nine Carolina runners return for the Tar Heels who will look to experience to fuel their fire in 2002.

"Three of our top five runners were freshman last year," said head coach Michael Whittlesey. "They fought hard but just weren't used to having 20 or 30 guys along side them after a mile or two. "

"In high school these guys are blowing people away, and that is not the case here. That said, I think they understand mentally what it takes to survive a college cross-country event."

UNC has added some top recruits to go along with these veterans this season. Last year there was a mix of freshman and a few upperclassmen, but that will not be the case in 2002.

"I think we are going to surprise some people this season," said Whittlesey. "This is the best recruiting class I have brought in, add that with the talented sophomores and veteran seniors, and you know that we are going to be much improved this season."

To help the recruits and others along will be the five returning letterman. Sophomores Brian McGovern, Matthew Daly and Hunter Graham all competed in the 2001 season. McGovern was UNC's number one runner a year ago, finishing 46th at the ACC Championship. Daly and Graham each competed in five events for the Tar Heels last season with Daly finishing in third at the Charlotte Relay Invite and Graham taking 15th place at the Carolina Challenge. Seniors Dash and Zach Victor also return for the Tar Heels and provide leadership. Dash ran in four events last season having a season-high 11th place finish at the Carolina Challenge, while twin brother Zach took 61st at the ACC Championship.

"We have a very talented group that wants to succeed, and I think that is the biggest difference from last season to this one," said Whittlesey. "This group will push one another and improve the quality of practice, day in and day out."

"This provides competition on a regular basis that in turn makes practice into an intersquad meet."

The men's cross-country team will have a good schedule to get them ready for the ACC Championship. They will compete in five events prior to the championship. They are the Campbell Invitational (8/31) in Buies Creek, N.C., UNC Challenge (9/14) in Chapel Hill, Great American Festival (9/27) in Charlotte, N.C., NC Collegiate Champ (10/12) in Greenville, N.C. and the NCAA Preview (10/19) in Terre Haute, Ind., before the ACC Championship (11/2) hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga.

"I think the schedule and improved competition will have us be very competitive at the ACC Championship," said Whittlesey. "Realistically I think we can finish in the top four and have a tremendous improvement in 2002."

Carolina has experience on its side. The Tar Heels will look for the sophomores to provide leadership to the freshman and push them to their very limits. A combination of youth and experience should have the Tar Heels moving up the ACC ladder in the 2002 season.