Westfield’s Leah Rucki cruises at last year’s Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Conference championship. (File photo)
WESTFIELD – Practice had just concluded yesterday morning for the 28 girls looking to make the cut for Michael Rowbotham’s 2013 Westfield Bombers cross-country squad, and their coach couldn’t be happier with the effort being put forth in their attempts to make the team for quite possibly the most difficult sport in the crowded fall season.
“Unike track and field, (cross-country) is all terrain, all weather,” Rowbotham said. “A lot of people don’t understand the sport. But the new girls are adjusting well.”
A solid 2012 roster, coupled with a boy’s crew that went undefeated and ran away with the western Mass. championship, has pushed this year’s Bomber harriers into another stratosphere for the upcoming season, a new division with some familiar foes.
“We’ll be facing the likes of Minnechaug and Ludlow more this season,” Rowbotham said, referencing Agawam and West Springfield as foes they’ll be leaving behind. “We’ll be running on three new courses this season. We will even be running at Southwick for the first time since I’ve been here.”
Rowbotham, who also doubles as the WHS swim coach, is in his third year at the helm for the Bomberettes, having taken over the reigns from coach Kelly Fydenkevez, who went on maternity leave during the 2010 season.
Ally Morin is expected to build on a dominant 2012 for Westfield this fall. (File photo by Chris Putz)
“It’s been uphill, downhill and through the woods ever since!” he said.
When asked of who the team will potentially consist of this season, the coach pointed out the great wealth of freshmen running for spots, along with several sophomores and juniors looking to try their feet at the trails.
“We’re still in the evaluation stage,” Rowbotham said. “We graduated thirteen seniors last year, and we’re returning eleven girls.”
Of those returnees, he is most excited for the presence of two transcendent stars in Bomber black.
“Ally Morin is coming off some injuries last season, but she is an accomplished runner who set lots of course records last season,” the coach said of the senior. “Leah Rucki is also looking to have a big year for us.”
When asked of the most exciting aspect of this oft-overlooked sport, Rowbotham pointed out the special comraderie that exists on a tightknit squad.
“It’s a disciplined team sport,” he said. “We often think of running as an individual thing, but the girls all encourage one another. They know who starts races strong, who comes on at the end. It’s neat to be a part of.”
Regarding his personal expectations for the upcoming campaign, which starts September 10 at home against Ludlow, Rowbotham is looking to remain in the western Mass. mix.
“I want to be .500 or better, in the top half of western Mass.,” he said. “Go Bombers!”
