Todd Morgan Press Conference Transcript
Monday, August 30, 2010 | Cross Country
On the start of the 2010 cross country season:
“We've been getting into it now full force now for the past week or so and have been really pleased with the men's and women's teams and the way they came into the season prepared. It looks like over the summer, they did what they needed to do. We had a large number of people stay here in Gainesville. A lot of the freshmen were here for summer school trying to get ahead and they started out on the right foot. We also had a lot of people last spring turn a corner during the track season and I think it has definitely carried through and is going to show this fall with them.”
On the men's team and their preparation:
“A couple of the guys turned the corner and made some headway last spring and carried that through the summer until now. Josh Izewski, who made the NCAA meet in outdoor track and was just shy of All-America status, ran 29:36 on the track in the 10k, which is a good mark. James Uthmeier, Alex Schanen, Anthony Morales and Derek Wehunt are guys who are coming back and who are taking a leadership role. The direction and focus of this men's team is fun and exciting. They are really looking to get at it and start meets. We have some great newcomers, a couple being Matt Mizereck, Mark Parrish, Erick Montoya, Eric Ochoa and Tyler Davidson. A lot of the guys are Florida guys that are coming in and elevating the level. We added a transfer student from South Africa, Dumisane Hlaselo who has ran at a very high level internationally, so I really feel good about this group. I think they come in with something they want to show and prove and so far I think they're working really hard towards that.”
On the women's squad being picked to defend the SEC Title:
“The women come in to this season picked to win the conference, so they have the target on their back. It's nothing a lot of teams here at Florida aren't used to, so they are used to it and welcome it and know that nothing will be given to them. They have worked that much harder this summer. We return Charlotte Browning for cross country this fall - she was a two-time NCAA champion last year on the track, so she's focused on having a really good cross country season. Also Rebecca Lowe, who was 15th in the NCAA meet last year and the SEC cross country champion, is returning so those two give us a lot of horsepower up front. Genevieve LaCaze and Ali Crabb are two other runners that have been steady money for us and are fired up to lead this team so we're looking forward to that. I think that we had a very good recruiting class with the women also. Adding Shelby Hayes and Cory McGee, they come in with something to prove now. We also added Stephanie Strasser and Sarah Davis, two girls out of Florida. We're also bringing back Brittany Koziara, who is from Boone high school in Orlando, and went to Baylor for a year and we are really excited to have her here. We have a good group. I think a big turnaround this year is Callie Cooper, who will be in her second year. She had a really great summer and I think we will look to count on her as well. I like the focus and level of both teams and right now both groups just have to head down and work all the way up through September and once we get into October and November is when it really starts to count heavy for us.”
