Sept. 12, 2005
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State women's cross country team enters the 2005 season brimming with confidence and high expectations. Even after placing seventh at the conference meet last year, assistant coach Jennifer Nanista believes they are poised for an upper-division finish this fall.
"I feel we have the strongest team we've ever assembled here," Nanista said. "Our goal is to finish in the top three in conference and place in the top ten at the NCAA West Regional with one or two athletes competing at the NCAA meet."
Fueling such optimism on Montezuma Mesa is the return of five of SDSU's top seven runners from a year ago. The Aztecs also welcome three talented transfers who are expected to become major contributors this season.
Once again leading SDSU's charge is senior Christal Cuadra. Last year, the Honolulu, Hawaii product earned a spot on the all-Mountain West Conference second team, becoming only the second Aztec runner ever to make all-conference since its inception. Cuadra also logged a personal-best 6K time of 22:00 at the NCAA West Regional.
"This is Christal's senior year and we'd like to get her close to nationals," Nanista said.
Along with Cuadra, San Diego State will rely heavily on the troika of Lital Azulay (Coastal Carolina), Lisa Naucler (Manhattan), and Lisa Crampton (Belmont). Azulay and Naucler both ran for the Aztec track team last spring and both are expected to make an immediate impact this fall. Primarily a distance runner, Azulay finished fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2005 MWC outdoor championships, while Naucler competed in both the 800 and 1,500 meters throughout the season.
"Lital is very strong, she's very good in the distance," Nanista said. "She is someone that I'm definitely looking to come in and make an immediate impact. I'm looking for her to lead the team. Lisa Naucler is a middle-distance runner, but I do think she has a lot of potential to do well in cross country and be a key contributor."
Crampton was a two-year competitor in both track and cross country at Belmont University, earning Atlantic Sun Conference freshman of the year honors in 2003.
Competing for the fifth spot will be seniors Jackie Duncan and Jamillah Titus and juniors Ali Baker, Sarah Cates and Celeste Tyson. Another possibility is transfer Sarah Belger who had an impressive training camp following knee surgery earlier this spring.
Rounding out the roster are sophomores Briana Powell and Anne Vieira along with transfers Lisa Marchini, Dora Sanders and freshman Amanda Maydeck.
A trip to the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 24 highlights the 2005 schedule.
"The Stanford Invitational is probably the biggest competition that we'll see," Nanista said. "Several top-25 teams will compete there. I think we'll see a lot more teams from our region, because our regional meet is going to be held at Stanford and a lot of teams will be there to preview the course."
San Diego State's only home meet this season will take place at Balboa Park on Sept. 17 when it hosts the 61st annual Aztec Invitational, while the team ventures to Fort Collins, Colo. for this year's MWC championships on Oct. 29.