The Seton Hall Pirates men’s cross country team will travel to the Bronx on Saturday to compete in the IC4A Championship at Van Cortlandt Park.
Seton Hall Athletics
The men will look to cap off their season with a strong finish in what should be a very competitive field. Head coach John Moon recognizes the importance of this weekend’s race and is eager to see how his team performs.
“We want to finish up with a high note; it is very important to finish up strong. We want to finish up with some good times heading into next year,” Moon said. “My goal, is having as many guys finishing with 26 minutes as possible. I think I can have three or maybe four guys finish with 26 minutes.”
It has been a roller coaster season for the Pirates who just finished in 23rd place last weekend in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Championship, held at University Park.
Despite their performance last weekend, Moon has been impressed with his team’s practices this week. “Based on the way they have looked in practice this week, it is going to be a whole different ball game (this weekend) than it was last weekend, he said.”
Moon also pointed out that last weekend’s race was a 10-kilometer race. It was the Pirates’ first time competing in a 10-kilometer event. Luckily for The Hall, the IC4A Championship will only be an 8-kilometer race, which bodes better for his squad.
Moon acknowledged that after five solid weeks of running to start the year, his team has seemed to lose their footing in the month of November.
“Over the last month the team has been plagued with a lot of colds,” Moon said. “Everyone has been sick or had leg problems. Now we are starting to get rid of all the colds.”
The Pirates do not have the luxury of a deep roster, which has caused these minor colds and leg injuries to hinder the team’s success.
Now that the Pirates seem to have finally overcome their colds and are healthy, Moon is expecting them to regain their early season form.
Moon will be counting on senior Kevin Walsh, sophomore Victor Ricci, freshman Jake Simon and freshman Bryant Cordova as they look to cap off their 2014 campaign.
The aforementioned Rhode Island native, Victor Ricci has been one of the anchors for the Pirates this season.
Ricci led the Pirates last weekend with a time of 33:40 and will look to again lead the Pirates in their last race of the season.
One of the pleasant surprises for Moon this season has been freshman, New Jersey native Jake Simon.
“Freshman Jake Simon really surprised when he stepped it up,” Moon said.
Moon will look to Simon once again to step up this weekend in the IC4A Championship.
Despite the longing for improved finishes, Moon is content with his team’s performance this year, heading into their final race.
“Everyone gave me 100 percent,” he said. “As a coach I cannot ask for much more than that.”
Moon feels that this year’s squad is superior over last year’s team and he hopes that a good finish this weekend in the IC4A Championship will help next year’s team improve and surpass this year’s squad.
The men’s cross country team will begin action at the IC4A Championship on Saturday, Nov. 22. The action is set to begin at 9 a.m.
Matthew Rachek can be contacted at matthew.rachek@student.shu.edu.
