Two runners laced up, salvaging Al Seither’s wilting aspirations of fielding a men’s team for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship meet this weekend.
Star runners Richard Bouckaert, history senior, and Matt Cagigal, finance senior, seemed resigned to the fact that they wouldn’t compete for team honors in the final stanza of their Wolfpack careers. The Maroon reported in its Sept. 22 issue that the defending champions at this time last month didn’t have enough runners to compete as a team at their scheduled competitions.
English writing junior Zach Custer and political science freshman Chris Tyree have filled that void.
“Bless (Custer’s and Tyree’s) hearts,” Seither said. “The fact that we can compete as a team pleases me and the older guys, especially. They bring enthusiasm and a will to do their best. I can’t ask for more.”
They both most recently ran the Twilight Classic in Memphis, Tenn., alongside Bouckaert, Cagigal and marketing freshman Tyler Kaufman, the only three male runners with which Loyola started the season.
Custer, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., cleared the Memphis course in 32 minutes and 53 seconds to secure a 186th place finish overall.
Tyree, a former Brother Martin Crusader, placed closely behind at 197th overall via a 35:22.58 finish time.
Their performance at the Twilight Classic, Seither said, is not an indication of how they’ll contribute at the conference meet.
“(Twilight) is a much larger meet with much faster runners. (GCAC Conference) isn’t as strong as some of these other races we participate in.”
With a repeat of the one-two finish Bouckaert and Cagigal orchestrated at the 2004 GCAC championships – the last time Loyola fielded a team – either Custer, Kaufman or Tyree would have to finish around the top 10 to maximize his team’s championship chances.
“I’m pretty sure (Bouckaert and Cagigal) will (finish top two). The others would have to finish close to that. Ideally, 12 and 13,” Seither said.
“I just wish we had more time to work and make them stronger. But with a little luck and a little more inspiration, I think we’ll be able to do something we can be proud of,” Seither said.
Bouckaert sees adequate assets around him.
“Zach, Tyler and Chris are all very capable of competing at conference and helping the team contend for a top spot. They are all strong runners that know how to work off each other and the runners in the race,” he said.
With the 5-mile race preparation the newcomers have done and how well they’ve adapted the appropriate running strategy, Bouckaert said, “I definitely see us finishing among the top three teams.”
FRESHMAN RECRUITS
Seither is especially enthusiastic about Tyree, his second freshman pickup.
“I have high hopes for him. Because he is a freshman, I have high hopes that he’ll be a significant part of our team in the future,” he said.
Tyree joins fellow freshman Kaufman as a block around which Seither hopes to build his program once Bouckaert and Cagigal graduate.
“Having them brings youth to the team that should help build a solid base for next year,” Bouckaert added.
Kaufman’s raced with the ‘Pack since the start of the season, placing 50th overall at the Louisiana State University Invitational and 57th overall at Rhodes.
Tyree ran cross country for Brother Martin to stay in shape for soccer season.
He played goalie for the Crusaders.
“He did what he needed to,” said Brother Martin cross country Coach Dennis Panepinto. “To run five miles, you need talent. I think he has it. He won’t be a top two guy, but he definitely won’t finish last on you.”
Ramon Vargas can be reached at [email protected].
