Temple University Athletics
Men's Cross Country Opens 2018 Season Friday
8.29.18 | Men's Cross Country
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple men's cross country team returns a core group of athletes who will kick off the 2018 season this Friday at Belmont Plateau. After earning the No. 7 spot in the USTFCCCA Regional preseason rankings, the Owls have high expectations heading into this season.
For the first time in Temple history, the men's team captured the IC4A team and individual championships with five runners earning All-East honors. They also earned their highest-ever finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet where they placed seventh out of 26 teams.
The 2017 season kicked off with three consecutive team titles at the Temple Invitational, the Rider Invitational and Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational. Winning the meet at Notre Dame allows the Owls to enter the Blue "elite section" when they travel to compete in 2018. This provides an opportunity for the Owls to compete against some of the best programs in the country.
The team had high expectations heading into the 2017 conference championship meet but left feeling disappointed with their third place finish. Going into 2018, the goals remain the same as the team has learned a few lessons that will better prepare them for this season.
"Looking at this year and all of the potential we have, we are shooting for a conference title," head coach James Snyder explains. "Tulsa is a national caliber program who has won the conference every year, but we have 15 guys on our roster who want to challenge them. UConn is a team that we have yet to beat in the league that we look forward to racing. We were disappointed about our finish in the conference last year, especially on our home course. The momentum we were able to gain last season set us up for success, and we are looking to redeem ourselves this year," added Snyder.
Meet the Owls
The lone loss for the Owls is the graduation of 2017 co-captain Marc Steinsberger. While the squad does lose a tough leader in this All-Region runner, both Snyder and assistant coach Tyler Deck Shipley are confident that their returning athletes along with the new additions will excel to make for a successful 2018 season.
Temple brings a strong nucleus to the roster this season, returning Temple athletics' Newcomer of the Year Anton Harrsen, All-Conference runner Kevin Lapsansky and IC4A championship contributor Kristian Jensen. Harrsen was Temple's top finisher at the American Athletic Conference Championships in 2017, placing eighth to earn All-Conference honors. Lapsansky earned two top-10 finishes last season and placed 11th at conferences, earning him All-Conference honors as well. Jenson was another great contributor, helping the Owls to three consecutive team titles in their first meets of the season. These runners also greatly contributed in the Owls first ever IC4A Championship title with Harrsen finishing fifth, Jenson 10th and Lapsansky 13th.
"Anton has had a really good summer of training and is ready to be someone that we rely on at the front of our pack," said Snyder. "Kevin is in the same boat, and I am really happy with where these guys are at going into the season. Kristian has returned to form after a few injuries last spring, and is someone who has the talent and has certainly put in the work this summer to be a true difference maker for this program."
To add to this core group of returners, Snyder and Shipley have brought in an outstanding recruiting class with diverse experiences to bring the program to the next level. One standout newcomer is a fifth year transfer coming to Philadelphia from the University of Maryland. Louis Corgliano joins the Owls after earning Big 10 honors last spring in the 3000m completing his track and field career with five top 10 all time performances at UMD (3000m, 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m). The coaches also see high potential in newcomers Quinn Serfass and Harry Powell.
"Quinn has already started to prove himself as a freshman" new assistant coach Tyler Deck Shipley explained. "He looks fit and seems hungry to succeed at the college level. Lou is a savvy vet at this point coming into his fifth year from the University of Maryland. To have someone just step into your team for one season with this type of experience is something valuable and he certainly should be right in the mix. Harry comes in a bit older and more mature as a graduate student as well and is someone who has the high end ability to be a difference maker for us."
With the handful of graduate student transfers, the coaches are thrilled to utilize the vast amount of experience within the squad.
"The strength of our program comes from our depth. It is great to have guys who have their own way of doing things from other teams, and then you have the guys who have gone through the program and bring their own experiences to add to what we do here. It's a great bench mark for people on the team to stay motivated while bringing exciting new talent as well."
The depth that this 15-man roster encompasses allows for elevated expectations this season. With a strong roster comes competition every day, and competition leads to greatness.
"Whether you are our top guy or our 15th guy in the program, you are going to be held to the same standard. The decision to be good or great is in the hands of the athletes, and I am confident we have a group of young men here who are looking forward to realizing their full potential this fall."
Catch the men's cross country squad in action for their first and only home meet of the season this Friday, August 31st at Belmont Plateau where they host the Temple Invitational. The race is set to kick off at 5:15 pm as the Owls look to achieve back-to-back regular season team titles on their home course.
For the first time in Temple history, the men's team captured the IC4A team and individual championships with five runners earning All-East honors. They also earned their highest-ever finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet where they placed seventh out of 26 teams.
The 2017 season kicked off with three consecutive team titles at the Temple Invitational, the Rider Invitational and Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational. Winning the meet at Notre Dame allows the Owls to enter the Blue "elite section" when they travel to compete in 2018. This provides an opportunity for the Owls to compete against some of the best programs in the country.
The team had high expectations heading into the 2017 conference championship meet but left feeling disappointed with their third place finish. Going into 2018, the goals remain the same as the team has learned a few lessons that will better prepare them for this season.
"Looking at this year and all of the potential we have, we are shooting for a conference title," head coach James Snyder explains. "Tulsa is a national caliber program who has won the conference every year, but we have 15 guys on our roster who want to challenge them. UConn is a team that we have yet to beat in the league that we look forward to racing. We were disappointed about our finish in the conference last year, especially on our home course. The momentum we were able to gain last season set us up for success, and we are looking to redeem ourselves this year," added Snyder.
Meet the Owls
The lone loss for the Owls is the graduation of 2017 co-captain Marc Steinsberger. While the squad does lose a tough leader in this All-Region runner, both Snyder and assistant coach Tyler Deck Shipley are confident that their returning athletes along with the new additions will excel to make for a successful 2018 season.
Temple brings a strong nucleus to the roster this season, returning Temple athletics' Newcomer of the Year Anton Harrsen, All-Conference runner Kevin Lapsansky and IC4A championship contributor Kristian Jensen. Harrsen was Temple's top finisher at the American Athletic Conference Championships in 2017, placing eighth to earn All-Conference honors. Lapsansky earned two top-10 finishes last season and placed 11th at conferences, earning him All-Conference honors as well. Jenson was another great contributor, helping the Owls to three consecutive team titles in their first meets of the season. These runners also greatly contributed in the Owls first ever IC4A Championship title with Harrsen finishing fifth, Jenson 10th and Lapsansky 13th.
"Anton has had a really good summer of training and is ready to be someone that we rely on at the front of our pack," said Snyder. "Kevin is in the same boat, and I am really happy with where these guys are at going into the season. Kristian has returned to form after a few injuries last spring, and is someone who has the talent and has certainly put in the work this summer to be a true difference maker for this program."
To add to this core group of returners, Snyder and Shipley have brought in an outstanding recruiting class with diverse experiences to bring the program to the next level. One standout newcomer is a fifth year transfer coming to Philadelphia from the University of Maryland. Louis Corgliano joins the Owls after earning Big 10 honors last spring in the 3000m completing his track and field career with five top 10 all time performances at UMD (3000m, 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m). The coaches also see high potential in newcomers Quinn Serfass and Harry Powell.
"Quinn has already started to prove himself as a freshman" new assistant coach Tyler Deck Shipley explained. "He looks fit and seems hungry to succeed at the college level. Lou is a savvy vet at this point coming into his fifth year from the University of Maryland. To have someone just step into your team for one season with this type of experience is something valuable and he certainly should be right in the mix. Harry comes in a bit older and more mature as a graduate student as well and is someone who has the high end ability to be a difference maker for us."
With the handful of graduate student transfers, the coaches are thrilled to utilize the vast amount of experience within the squad.
"The strength of our program comes from our depth. It is great to have guys who have their own way of doing things from other teams, and then you have the guys who have gone through the program and bring their own experiences to add to what we do here. It's a great bench mark for people on the team to stay motivated while bringing exciting new talent as well."
The depth that this 15-man roster encompasses allows for elevated expectations this season. With a strong roster comes competition every day, and competition leads to greatness.
"Whether you are our top guy or our 15th guy in the program, you are going to be held to the same standard. The decision to be good or great is in the hands of the athletes, and I am confident we have a group of young men here who are looking forward to realizing their full potential this fall."
Catch the men's cross country squad in action for their first and only home meet of the season this Friday, August 31st at Belmont Plateau where they host the Temple Invitational. The race is set to kick off at 5:15 pm as the Owls look to achieve back-to-back regular season team titles on their home course.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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