Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Brother Doyle Meet of Champions
Cross Country Season Opens Saturday At Van Courtlandt Park
9.16.11 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Owls head to the Bronx to take part in the Brother Doyle Meet of Champions
PHILADELPHIA – Running season for Temple University gets underway Saturday when the Owls' cross country teams head to Van Courtlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. to compete in the Brother Doyle Meet of Champions, hosted by Iona College.
The Brother Doyle Meet of Champions honors former Iona cross country coach Br. John “Paddy” Doyle, who was Iona's assistant track coach from 1960-67 before taking over as head coach from 1975-85. This year's event will mark the 17th annual running when the Women's Championship 6K begins at 9:30 a.m. before the men will begin the 8K championship at 10:!5 a.m.
“Going up to Iona is always a very good meet where there's a lot of local competition,” head coach Eric Mobley said. “This is where your regional rankings are playing a part because this is where schools are running their full squads. We've had some pretty good meets there in the past—we went there two years ago and there will be some really solid competition there. We're looking forward to lots of new competition from inside this region.”
Temple is carrying 22 runners on its women's roster for the 2011 cross country season. With the talent all these runners have proven in the past and with what is expected of the newcomers, Mobley foresees a successful season for the women's squad ahead.
“I'm expecting our women's team to start off the season really well,” Mobley said. “From what we have seen in them at practice, they are looking very good. It's a different mentality and a different attitude, and I think they have a strong confidence this year. They have the potential to be good and raise the bar for the women's cross country program here at Temple. I'm very excited for them and it's going to be a first step in a very good year for the women's program.”
When speaking of newly added talent, Mobley feels freshman Jenna Dubrow has the kind of skill that will attribute to being an immediate impact for the rest of the program.
“Jenna Dubrow is probably one of the more talented distance runners that we brought in since I've been here,” Mobley said. “She's been looking great at practice and I think she is elevating the level for the rest of the women on the team.”
Having just 10 runners on the men's squad, Mobley feels depth could be lacking this season, but he feels confident in the quality of his male runners.
“Although we're going to be a small group, we should still be a really good group,” Mobley said. “With what we have, we have some quality guys. We're really looking for Travis [Mahoney]—who is probably going to sit out this first meet—to have a really good year and to feed off of last year and even from earlier seasons.
“Phil Fanz is looking really good. He ended last year really strong, being a junior All-American, which helped him with his summer training. We think he is going to have a great year, so we're definitely looking forward to him running.”
Like the women's side, Mobley knows the men's team contains solid talent from the incoming freshmen, as well as from sophomores that did not run last season.
