University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Cross Country Welcomes Five Freshmen
August 31, 2010 | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 31, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - With the start of the 2010 cross country season just a few weeks away, UMass head coach Ken O'Brien will welcome five freshmen to his squad this fall. The Minutemen will look to Dan Joyce, Patrick McGowan, Paul Merriman, Jared Reddy and Antony Taylor to help UMass vie for its second Atlantic 10 title in the past three seasons.
"This spring we graduated several seniors that made significant contributions to the success and growth of our program," said O'Brien. "However, the accomplishments and outstanding potential of this years incoming freshmen class, creates within the coaching staff, and returning team members, a sense of great excitement and optimism about the 2010 season."
Dan Joyce of Marshfield High School in Marshfield, Mass., served as captain junior and senior seasons, helping Marshfield's cross country and track & field squads to a total of five Atlantic Coast League championships. He was tabbed an ACL All-Star for all three seasons as a junior and senior and was named an ACL All-Star for indoor track as a sophomore. Joyce was part of indoor school record-setting 4x800 (8:09), Distance Medley (10:44), Sprint Medley (3:42) relay teams and outdoor Distance Medley (10:49) and 4 x Mile (18:31) relays at Marshfield. Individually, he ran the 800m (1:59), mile (4:26) and two-mile (9:35.70), earning an Atlantic Coast League selection in the two-mile. He finished seventh in the mile at the indoor state meet as a senior in 2010.
Paul Merriman joins the Minutemen out of Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, N.Y., where he helped his squad to four league cross country titles, two regional and sectional titles (2008, 2009) and a state championship in 2009. Merriman was part of the cross country team that took ninth at nationals in 2009, as well. In 2008, as a junior, Merriman recorded a stretch of performances that placed him in the top-five as an individual in five major New York cross country meets that included the Manhattan, McQuaid, and Chittenango invitationals, as well as Section III, Class AA, and N.Y. State Championship, AA meets. In recognition of his success, Merriman was selected to the N.Y. All-State Cross Country first team that season.
Finishing in 14th place overall, Merriman was the No. 2 runner for Fayetteville-Manlius' N.Y. State AA Championship his senior year and helped the squad continue its stretch of consecutive appearances at the NXN National Championships. Merriman placed 13th at the NXN N.Y. Boys Championship Race, helping his team capture the regional title and qualify for the National High School Cross Country Championship meet.
Patrick McGowan out of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Mass., was selected the Boston Globe, All-Scholastic Cross Country Boys Athlete of the Year in 2009 and was tabbed the 2009-10 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. As a senior, he won The Hockomock League title and propelled his team to an undefeated season. He also won the Division 2 Eastern Mass. State Meet in 16:02 as Mansfield won the team championship. One week later, McGowan became the Division 1 Cross Country state champion, posting a time of 16:05 over the 5K course, and led his team to its second straight state cross country title. He finished in 11th place (16:19.2 for 5K) in the 2009 NXN Northeast Regional Qualifying Meet for the National High School Championships.
Jared Reddy of Methuen, Mass., graduated from Methuen High School where he earned Boston Globe First Team All-State honors in cross country in 2008 and 2009 and was voted the Merrimack Valley Conference Runner of the Year. Reddy led Methuen to 25 consecutive dual meet victories and was undefeated individually during his senior year.
Reddy won the 2009 Manhattan College Invitational Race at Van Cortlandt Park and guided his team to a second place showing at the Eastern Mass. State Division 1 meet in 2009, recording 16:33 time over the 5K course at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass. Reddy led Methuen to a second place finish in the Division 1 All-State Cross Country Meet in 2009 by capturing third as an individual in 16:11.8 (5K at Northfield Mountain), the fastest time ever by a MHS Ranger. Reddy finished 19th at the 2009 NXN Northeast Regional qualifying meet for the National High School Championships.
A virtual newcomer to cross country in the fall of 2010, Antony Taylor of Arlington High School in Arlington, Mass., showed signs of promise during his first high school track & field season as junior in 2009. His regular season highlight was a 4:22.00 mile run, but he improved rapidly during the spring championship season by recording 9:20.0 in the 3200m during the New England High School Championships and a 15:41.50 in the 5000m at the Nike Outdoor National Meet.
As a senior in 2010, Taylor was one of the states most consistent performers despite it being his first year of cross country running. It featured a streak of five cross country championship and invitational meets where he finished no lower than third place. He won the Dual County League Championship (16:19), placed third in the prestigious McIntyre Invitational (MSTCA) meet in 16:08 at Franklin Park, and finished first at the Bay State Cross Country Invitational.
During the Championship portion of the season, he was runner-up in the Eastern Mass. Division 2 State Meet, running the 5K in 16:07 at Franklin Park. One week later, he placed second at the All-State Cross Country Championship, covering the grueling 5K Northfield Mountain course in 16:10.4. Taylor finished 24th at the 2009 NXN Northeast Regional Qualifying Meet for the National High School Championships, as well.