Georgian Crt. cross-country team is young and deep

Georgian Crt. cross-country team is young and deep

By tim morris

Staff Writer

OOnce again, Georgian Court College women’s cross country is looking to Garden State talent to remain competitive in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Six times in the 1990s the Lakewood college runners won the NAIA Regional Cham-pionship which earned them trips to the national championships.

Coach Kerwin Lanz, the girls’ indoor and outdoor track and field coach at Manalapan High School, has assembled another strong team of home-grown talent that will be out to continue the Lions’ winning tradition.

"We are proud of the fact that our success has been a result of having women from New Jersey come and compete for us," said Lanz.

Juniors Camille Barone from Monmouth Regional and Nicole Oppenheimer of Manchester are the team leaders and co-captains.

Junior Danielle Curivan of Brick and sophomore Jennifer Ruggiero, also from Brick, are the other returning veterans.

The Lions will be counting on a big incoming freshman class that includes Shelby Hand of Toms River South; Maria Iniguez of Asbury Park; Mary Mancini of Monroe; Claire Oswald of Williamstown; Yanci Pereira of Memorial; and Christine Vignali of Allentown.

"The key to our success this year is patience," Lanz pointed out. "We need to let our new team members become confident in our program and themselves.

"Camille and Nicole will provide the leadership and experience that will enable us to develop throughout the season."

Lanz sees the potential for a strong team because he has talent combined with depth from the first through 10th runner.

"We are solid to the 10th woman in desire and quality of character," he said.

Georgian Court’s harriers begin their 2000 season on Saturday at the William Paterson Invitational at Garret Mountain in Passaic County.