W.X.-Country visits Boston

Coming off back-to-back second place finishes at Fordham and Princeton, the Penn women's cross country team is looking to shake its bridesmaid image when it competes in the Boston College Invitational tomorrow. One of the main reasons Quaker coach Betty Costanza selected this meet was the venue -- Boston's Franklin Park -- which is the same course where the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference will hold its championship November 11-12. Costanza hopes to gain a competitive advantage for the ECACs by getting an early look at the course. The course has recently undergone some renovations. The first turn has been rounded off. The path has been widened, and some trees have been removed. The course, already quick, is now "very fast," according to Penn men's cross country coach Charlie Powell. Look for senior captain Maggie Morrow, coming off of a disappointing Princeton meet, to jump to the front of the pack early. Morrow is best when she is able to go out and set the pace. "Maggie needs to assert herself as number one," Costanza said. Costanza is also counting on seniors Jenee Anzelone and Caitlin Riley to rebound from last weekend's poor showing. But don't expect senior co-captain Bridget Ward to be a major force in the meet. She has yet to race up to her capabilities this year. "Bridget is not in tip-top shape," Costanza said. But without Ward, last year's most improved player, at full strength, the Quakers may again have to settle for second best. This is also the meet where sophomore Michelle Belsley could establish herself as a first-class distance runner. Coming off two straight top-five finishes, Belsley's confidence is soaring. "Michelle will do some damage if she can stay healthy," Costanza said, referring to the leg injury that erased Belsley's freshman year. Of the 12 runners making the trip to Boston, three will be freshman -- Kristen Duyck, Christine Stavalone and Kirsten Gregory. Although they probably will not have a major impact, Costanza is hoping the preview of the course will pay off in November for the ECACs. The team will try to execute its strategy -- running in a pack-- better this weekend. The coaches expect Morrow and Belsley to run near the top. But in order to win at Boston College, the Quakers need Anzelone and Riley to finish high. A good showing from Ward could springboard Penn into first.