University of Massachusets Athletics
Underclassmen Showcasing Talent Early
September 27, 1999 | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 27, 1999
THE WEEK AHEAD: UMass travels to Van Cortland Park for the Meet of Champions on Oct. 2 in Bronx, N.Y.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: The Minutemen are getting a surprising push from their underclassmen. At Vermont, the top three finishers for UMass were all sophomores led by Ryan Corbett (Highland, N.Y.) with a time of 25:32, good for a fifth place showing overall. The first meet of the season saw four underclassmen finish in UMass? top five. Sophomore Kevin Curtin (Chelmsford, Mass.) has been the most consistent runner for the Minutemen, with the second and third fastest finishes at Vermont and BC respectively.
UMASS ON THE MOVE: The Minutemen moved up a spot in the latest Atlantic 10 Coaches? Poll. UMass is now ranked fourth in the conference. St. Josephs knocked LaSalle out of the top spot for the first time this season, and Virginia Tech rounds out the top three.
HEAD COACH KEN O?BRIEN: This is Ken O?Brien?s 33rd season as head coach of the UMass men?s cross country/track & field teams. During his tenure, UMass has won 16 conference championships, four New England titles and two IC4A titles. Last season, O?Brien was named NCAA District I Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. The 1963 UMass graduate has produced seven all-Americans during his 33-year career.