George Washington University

Aug. 7, 2001

First-year head coach Deb Hasfurther will rely on a core of talented returnees to improve upon last season's Atlantic 10 performance. Leading the men will be junior captain David Talbird and sophomore Darrell Andruski (Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Oct. 2) along with juniors Matt Kascak, Chris Zurich, Rob Wolcheski and sophomores David Azari Devin Kennington and Giannis Doulamis. Freshman Zachary Holt and Timothy Persico lead a talented group of newcomers that includes Art Rowbotham, Mark Swartz, Derek Tumolo and James Bayet. The team also will benefit from the return of junior Adam McCready who took last season off. After being slowed by injuries last season, Hasfurther expects a healthy men's team to compete for a top spot in the Atlantic 10 this season. The women's team will be led by juniors Jessica Gross and Mackenzie Jessen and senior captain Eileen Kickish. Junior Laura Jennings finished strong at the end of last season and also is expected to have a solid season. Seniors Jenee Peterson, who has always been a top runner at GW, and Paige Simms return after semesters abroad and will help the team. Freshman Mary Beth McCullough and Erin Patton head a strong recruiting class for the Colonials and are expected to be two of the top runners on the squad. Joining McCullough and Patton as newcomers on the squad are Katia Chupaskho and Chloe Feinberg. The Colonials will host the George Washington University Invitational at Bull Run Park in Centreville, VA, for the fifth consecutive year on Saturday, September 29. More than 15 teams will compete in the marquee event of the Colonials season. The schedule also is highlighted by a few new trips for the Colonials, including meets at Towson, Mount St. Mary's and the East Carolina Invitational as well as the traditional George Mason Invitational on Saturday, October 13. The GW men's and women's cross country teams continue to excel in the classroom, posting an overall GPA of 3.14 and 3.39, respectively, for the 2000-2001 academic year. The women's squad had the second highest team GPA of any GW women's team. Nine members of the men's team and 12 members of the women's team were selected to the 2000-2001 Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average.