Confident Harper in the running for double national titles
On Saturday afternoon, the Harper men's and women's cross country teams will take to the start line for the last time this season in the NJCAA Divsion III national championships, hosted by Finger Lakes Community College at Bruce Bridgman Cross Country Course in Canadaigua, N.Y.
Both the men's and women's teams come into the race atop the NJCAA Division III polls. Coach Jim Macnider, now in his fourth year at Harper, believes his teams are where they belong.
"I think we deserve to be ranked No. 1," he said. "This is the most talented team I've had."
The Hawks will have certainly have experience on their side - three of the Hawks ran with last years' national championship men's squad.
Having the pressure of being the country's top spot is nothing new to the men's team, but it's been an adjustment for the women.
"The women are feeling more pressure then the men," said Macnider. "It's my job to make sure they are relaxed. If I do it right, they will be fine."
Two teams to keep an eye on in the women's race are SUNY-Delhi and Mohawk Valley. Ranked second in the national poll, Mohawk Valley could be the Hawks' biggest challenger. Another team of note is Region IV foe Joliet Junior College.
"The girls are confident," Macnider said. "The girls know if they run well they can be in the top three. But he admitted, "it's going to be a tough race."
The Hawks dominated the men's race last season, placing four runners in the top 10 individually. The best of them is Schaumburg High School grad Juan Barajas; Macnider likes the form he's shown all season.
"The way Juan is running, he is one of the individual favorites," Macnider said.
Can Harper have a repeat performance with the same kind of team dominance? It is not out of the realm of possibility.
"It's possible for us to have (the entire team) in the top 15," Macnider said.
Howard Community College (Columbia, Md.) is ranked second in the most recent poll. Macnider suggested Darton State College (Albany, Ga.), ranked sixth, is another capable of derailing the men's title effort.