by Jerry Reilly
The Fredonia State women's cross country team is young. One of two seniors on the roster, Amanda Solly, is ready to lead the team into the 2011 season. Interim head coach Tom Wilson said Solly is coming off a series of injuries last spring. “She is in great shape (now),” Wilson said, “and ready to make an impact in the conference.”
Solly was her team's No. 1 runner in one meet in 2010, was No. 4 once, and No. 5 twice. She will have to help fill the void left by Becca List's decision to sit out this fall so let a knee injury heal. List was the Blue Devils' top runner most of last season.
Sophomores Lauren Truby and Alissa Conti, and junior Lindsay Rynders are others Wilson will be counting on. Truby is coming off a strong outdoor track season during which she set a personal-best 5K time and qualified for the SUNYAC meet in the event. Conti had a strong finish to her freshman cross country season – she moved up steadily to the No. 3 spot on the team – and qualified for the SUNYAC 3,000-meter steeplechase the first time she ran it last spring. Rynders, a transfer from Finger Lakes Community College, has a successful junior college running history.
“Truby,” Wilson said, “will have a chance to improve on her times this fall. (Conti) … will help bring leadership and determination to the team. (Rynders) … will be looking to make her way up the team rankings.”
Two freshmen, Amanda Cocchiara and Marsha Cohen, have impressed Wilson during preseason runs. “Cocchiara had a successful high school career (at Hilton H.S.) running for a strong women's program. She has turned heads in Section V in both cross country and on the track (and) will be looking to continue her success. (And) Cohen brings a no-fear running style to the Blue Devils. She will be fighting for a top spot on the team.”
The other returning runners are senior Emily Paccia; juniors Chelsea Haag and Kateri Walsh; and sophomores Kim Foltz, Anna Hourihan, Jenny Mooney, and Zakiyah Woodson. Junior Chelsie Taddonio is new to the team along with freshmen Madison Cole, Sarah Minchen, Emily Palmeri, Angela Richter, and Sarah Rocco.
“We have a lot of work to do to continue climbing the SUNYAC rankings,” Wilson said. “The women will be looking to finish ahead of Brockport this fall and slide into the top half of the conference. It will take hard work, trust and determination for the women to achieve their goal this year.”
The first meet is Sept. 3 – Buffalo State's Daniel Walker Invitational.
