CAC Reign Kings: Cross Country Ready to Repeat, Again
For the first time in Salisbury University cross country history the Sea Gulls will enter a season as the reigning Capital Athletic Conference champions in both the men's and women's divisions.

Salisbury swept the CAC Championships last season and returns a majority of their team intact while adding some new faces to the mix. The women's team is looking for its unprecedented third straight conference title while the men's squad looks to repeat for the first time since 2003.

All of the CAC championship talk doesn't faze SU head coach Jim Jones, who is entering his eighth season at the helm.

"Every year is a different year," said Jones, who was named the CAC Cross Country Coach of the Year last season. "You have to come ready to compete."

WOMEN'S TEAM
The SU women's cross country team returns all four runners that were named to the 2005 All-CAC first team including sophomore Glenna Sullivan (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep) who was recognized as the 2005 CAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Glenna's twin sister Kelly Sullivan (Phoenix, Md./Maryvale Prep) along with fellow sophomore Amanda Hill (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) will lead the women's team. 

"I think we are going to fare very well [on the women's side]," said Jones. "The Sullivan twins and Amanda Hill will help pace the front three for us."

The Sea Gulls will rely on a supporting cast of juniors Zuzka O’Zwoldike (Tuckerton, N.J./Pinelands Regional) and Casey McInerny (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy), who were both All-CAC first team runners from a year ago. Sophomores Amy DeMichele (Mormora, N.J./Ocean City) and Briana Wodoslawsky (Damascus, Md./Damascus) are talented runners who will add valuable depth to the Sea Gull squad.

MEN'S TEAM
Will Murdoch (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) returns to the Salisbury men's cross country team in 2006 as the lone senior after sitting out last year with mononucleosis. For Murdoch, also an accomplished track and field athlete, this is his last semester to compete in the maroon and gold.

"This is it for him," said Jones. "He really wants to finish strongly. He has been all conference before but hasn't won the conference. He has some unfinished business."

Jones will be looking to Murdoch and junior All-CAC first team runner Eric Graves (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) to lead the Gulls towards their goal of repeating as conference champions and even further.

"Will Murdoch and Eric Graves are national caliber runners," said Jones. "They have a legitimate change of making nationals. Those two will set the pace for our team."

The supporting cast for Murdoch and Graves is a deep and talented group including All-CAC first team runner Buck Stokes (Lothian, Md./Southern) and fellow juniors Carl Blickle (Woolrich Township, N.J./Kingsway Regional) and Brian Eagan (Forest Hill, Md./C. Milton Wright). Sophomores Zack Dickerson (Elkridge, Md./Howard) and Josh Michael (Pottstown, Pa./Own J. Roberts) are slated to have strong seasons for the Gulls.

CAC
Salisbury opens the season on its home course, Winter Place Park, as the Gulls host 13 different schools in the Sea Gull Opener. Conference rival University of Mary Washington will be running in the meet. The Eagles have the best shot to derail the Sea Gulls' goal of repeating as CAC champions, later in the season (Nov. 4), on the SU home course.

"We have a great rivalry with University of Mary Washington. We respect them a great deal," said Jones. "It's going to be very difficult [to repeat]. We can’t expect it to be a cake walk."