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By Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information Director
Thursday, September 6, 2007
In Terry Masterson’s long and storied
coaching career at Hutchinson Community College, he had a feeling
his 2006 teams might struggle because of inexperience.
Masterson proved to be right as the
Blue Dragon men finished eighth at Region VI and the women placed
seventh.
As 2007 rolls around, Masterson is
hopeful that this season will yield better performances.
The Blue Dragons will get their first test on Friday at the Friends
Invitational at Lake Afton. The women begin at 6 p.m., with the men
starting about 6:45 p.m.
“I think we will be a much better
team than a year ago on the girls side,” said Masterson, who led the
2001 HCC women to a national championship. “We have numbers and a
little more talent.
“On the boys’ side, we also should be
a little better. We should also be a little bit better. We had some
kids come in at midterm and they should help. The freshmen are
learning, so by the end of the year, we could be pretty good.”
The HCC women have three returning
runners from last season.
Kristen Torres (40th at regionals in
22 minutes, 29.14 records) was the top regional finisher last
season. Dani Hatfield was 43rd at regionals with a time of 23:29.32.
Amanda Young also returns after finishing 46th at regionals with a
time of 23:02.05.
The Blue Dragon men have four
returning runners.
Chase Thompson was consistently one
of HCC’s top runners despite battling injuries in 2006. Thompson
finished 28th at regionals with a time of 27:41.05. Nick Robinson
(47th at regionals, 28:56.95), Harley Ewing (53rd at nationals,
29:32.51) and Chris Marshall (63rd at regionals, 31:43.46) are also
back.
The HCC men will also be bolstered by
transfer runner Justin Riggs, who went to Buhler High School and
competed at Fort Hays State before transferring to Hutchinson. T.J.
Hunter, who ran for one season with the Dragons three years ago, is
also back for 2007.
Masterson likes his freshmen group,
but is accustomed to now commenting about freshman runners until the
season gets going.
The HCC men have 14 runners
participating as fall practice begins. The Lady Dragons have nine
runners. |
