For Matt Zibilich, the men's leading runner last year, the new runners bring an attitude to the team in addition to their talent "It's a good feeling to run with a group of guys who are competitive. It's good to have guys to push you in practice and in a meet. The team benefits all around."
After a series of meets against non-conference competition, running on the championship course against WCC foes was a good prep for the big meet next week. "They know the course," said Luckin. "I think they're real determined and dedicated. "They're looking forward to it." The men's team completed their final tune-up for the conference championships in San Luis Obisbo at the Cal Poly Invitational. In a highly competitive field, including UC Berkeley, Cal Poly-SLO, and Fresno State, the men were once again paced by a first-year runner of their own, Dan Valles, who finished 81st. Two freshmen followed, Nick Schweitzer and Rob Witowski, and with Matt Zibilich, Brian Tyler, and Mike Griffith not far behind, the Dons also have the depth to place higher at the WCC meet than they have in recent years. Senior Matt Zibilich reached the end of his Dons running career in 30:03, good for 32nd place.
Both USF's men's and women's cross-country teams ran in thick fog to seventh place finishes at the West Coast Conference Championships held two weekends ago in Belmont. The two-month cross country season culminates for most of USF's runners with the WCC champs, but four of the 12 runners who competed in the races will have a final go at competition this weekend at the NCAA District 8 Regionals, to be held at Woodward Park in Fresno.
Senior Pantea Jahani, who was USF's top finisher at the WCC champs, placing 14th out of a field of approximately 60 runners, should lead senior Sara Gigliotti and junior Laura Kuzminsky at Regionals, while junior Matt Ziblitch will be USF's lone representative from the men's team. Both the men's and women's teams were plagued with injuries this season, resulting in numerous runners, including half of the original men's team, being unable to complete the season.Only five out of the 10 members of the men's team ran in the WCC champs, in which seven are allowed to participate. Other men who competed in the race included sophomore Pasquale Mejia, senior Aaron Rhodes, and freshmen Jeff Lam and Gabriel Median. But Head cross country Coach John Drocco and Ziblitch noted that the team is young and they have faith that next year, the team will be stronger, with members who are more committed (TheFoghorn).
