Ron Helmer is serious about success. In his 20seasons at Georgetown, the cross country coach has known little else. The Hoyas women’s team finished in the national top 10 for 15 consecutive seasons (1998-2003).
But in 2004 they didn’t even make the NCAA championships, and last fall they were a disappointing 27th. With the success of years past threatening to pass right by the Hoyas’ latest group of runners, Helmer focused the beginning of this season on reestablishing his athletes’ level of expectation.
“It was not a casual conversation — when we started down this road, even a year ago, that this is the expectation — and it’s just not acceptable for us to think we should do anything other than this,” said Helmer. “I’ll let people make mistakes and accept the fact that we don’t always have a great year, but this is the place that we need to be.”
The Hoyas have made strides with second-place finishes in the Big East and the Mid-Atlantic Regional. But while heeding Helmer’s words, the runners also have tried to stay rational — and healthy.
“I guess you could say we stepped it up a lot from last year,” said senior Elizabeth Maloy, who is enjoying the first injury-free cross country season of her career and placed second at regionals and third in the conference. “But it’s been more of a healthy stepping up, not everyone has to go crazy and run all the time.”
Maloy also was seventh in the 1,500 meters at last spring NCAA track championships. She said the difference next week at Indiana State will be experience. Before last year only one Georgetown runner had ever been to the NCAAs, where all the little things — from the pre-race banquet to additional race numbers — can make it difficult to keep a normal routine.
“Teams can have a great day or they could bomb,” said Maloy. “We could just have a regular day and find ourselves a lot farther up than we thought we could finish.”
Perhaps back in the top 10.
NCAA XC Championships
At Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 20
» The Hoyas women’s cross county team expects every runner back next season, including Maloy, who has one year of eligibility remaining.
» The Georgetown men are on a equally impressive run, have won their third straight Mid-Atlantic Regional championship to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA championships. Junior Matt Debole finished second overall at the regional meet.
» The American men’s cross country team will also represent the Washington area at the NCAAs next week. Led by junior Steve Hallinan and senior Bredan Fennell, the Eagles took second at the Mid-Atlantic Regional to qualify.
