Alabama Men's Cross Country Season Preview
9/22/2003 12:00:00 AM
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For the first time in three years, the men go into the season without a dominant one-two punch at the front of the pack. The Crimson Tide will be without the late David Kimani, arguably the best collegiate distance runner in the nation over the last four years. Kimani’s life was cut tragically short last April just days before he was to turn pro. Peter Kiprono has also graduated from the Tide’s lineup.
So for the first time since Joe Walker became the Tide’s cross country coach before the 2000 season, his squad will go into the season with question marks through out the lineup.
“Pretty much every spot, one through seven, is up for grabs,” Walker said. “It’s going to be a very different year for us, and I think it will be a lot of fun to see how this group develops. They certainly have a challenge in front of them.”
It is a challenge made all the tougher by the fact that parity has come to the Southeastern Conference ranks. For the past five to six years, Alabama and Arkansas have dominated the field, but the gap has been closing and this year may be the most competitive, top-to-bottom, that the league has been in a decade.
Josphat Waweru will be the Tide’s top newcomer, coming to the Tide from Kenya. Walker notes that Waweru’s contributions this fall will depend on how quickly he makes the transition to the United State and collegiate life.
Walker also pulled two distance aces from in-state, taking Gaiting Kara from Decatur and Sam Nuckols from Huntsville. Both have a chance to be in the mix come championship season. In addition to those three, the Tide will also look to freshman Paulo Sosa from Spring, Texas. Providing leadership for the youngsters will be the Tide’s top returners, sophomores Peter Etoot and Tyler Stanfield, lone senior Joseph Herring and junior Kevin McDonough. Just how far the Tide goes this season will depend on what type of year Etoot and Stanfield have for Bama. Walker tabbed McDonough as the Tide’s most improved runner going into this season. Others who will look to make their mark this season include junior Curtis McBride and sophomores Jeff Fedler and Brandon Salesberry.
