2008 XC Preview

Hello to all, hope the summer treated you kindly. I also hope that our cross country got in their must needed miles over the summer to allow them to make a nice jump at both the local and Big East levels. Our staff is excited to return every member of last year's cross country squad and to combine this group with 3 incoming distance freshman.

Our top returner is senior, Tyneka Greene, who is entered her second season as captain. Tyneka was our top runner at every meet last fall and hopes to improve on her 19:16 PR at Van Courtlandt as well as her 77th place at Big East. Tyneka led off our Big East and ECAC scoring 4x800m relay numerous times last season with 2:12's splits. Add her 800m speed to her solid summer base and good things should happen.

Our other returning upperclassmen include Rakibat Abiola (Sr.), Pamela Petruski (Jr.), and Sarah Fry (Jr.). Petruski was also a member of the All-East 4x800m squad.

Returning sophomores include Sarah Sudbury, Lori Dougherty, Shakira Best, Katrina Schaefer, Laura Walsh, and Kayla Regulski. Sudbury is the top frosh returing out of Tomahawk, WI. Sudbury was second runner all last season as well as being a member of the All-East 4x800m.

Our rookie class includes three top prospects from New England and overseas. Aryon Trujillo hails from Pinkerton Academy (NH) and Nicole Cocozza from LaSalle Academy (RI) join us from top high school powerhouse. Sabine Schneider is over here from Germany which adds to our already international team.

We are excited to have everyone back from last season and the depth from our new freshman recruiting class will go along way in our development in the distance events and cross country.
We open up at the Hofsta Invitational on September 6th, 2008. We travel to Coach Hurt's Alma mater, Notre Dame, on September 19th, 22008 for the National Catholic Champs.

Calling Members of the 1984 - 1985 Team

Do you remember what you looked like in 1984? I find my picture to be more then a little embarrassing in the 1984 - 1985 media guide.

For those that want to peruse other years, you can get a listing of what we currently have online at the Friends of St John's Track and Field Archive.

Would You Like to Blog?

Blogging is as easy as writing an email, so if you'd like to get involved in posting stories about St John's, former team mates, Track and Field in general or the current team, let me know.

All you'll need to do is set up an email account on gmail.com and I'll be glad to enable you to start posting. Just drop me a note at the email address below.

I'm especially interested in those that would like to track down former team members and provide updates since their days at St John's

If you're technically shy, I'll walk you through putting up your first post. I have years as a software trainer so I can speak fluent geek and put it in human terms

Martin Nutty: nuttym@stjohns.edu

STJ at the Olympics

STJ continues a long history of representation at Olympic Track and Field with Rich Torellas (class of 1972). Rich emailed Coach Hurt with the pictures to the left on July 29th. He'd already been in Beijing for a week at that point!

Rich's local newspaper published a nice article on Rich's responsibilities during the games in the New Haven Register: Torrellas an invaluable part of U.S. track contingent

Rich threw the Hammer when attended STJ back in the 70s and has travelled an interesting road to become the Head Manager of USA Women's Track and Field at the 2008 games He was selected for the position 2 years ago and we wish him and the team well in the upcoming week and look forward to hearing his stories when he is back in the USA.