One last race, one last kick for two 'M' seniors

Around the beginning of May next year, when Ann Arbor finally emerges from the doldrums of winter and the air sparks with the excitement of graduation, Steve Lawrence and Jay Cantin will look back on their cross country lives at Michigan.

Two Big Ten titles, a Great Lakes Regional title, and two fourth-place team finishes at the NCAA final meet.

But what will stick out the most in the minds of the two departing captains will be what events transpired on Nov. 22 in Bloomington - the last time they donned the block 'M' for a cross country race.

Even today, four days before the Wolverines meet their season's destiny, Lawrence and Cantin understand the considerable implications of the NCAA final meet.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Steven Lawrence will need to run the race of his life if the men's cross country team is to place in the top five teams in the NCAA Championships on Monday.

"It's probably the one Steve and I will remember the most for the rest of our lives," Cantin said. "We should run our best ever."

Anything less could spell trouble for the Wolverines, as this year's field is as strong as any in recent memory - Arkansas is the preliminary favorite with North Carolina State, Stanford and Wisconsin among the upset candidates.

"We're ranked 25th going in," coach Ron Warhurst said, though Michigan is ranked eighth in this week's MONDO/coaches poll. "I think we can go anywhere from third to 25th, but it's going to take career races from everyone."

A hefty task to be sure, but General Warhurst is lightening up on the troops this week, doing what was unheard during most of the season - reducing the mileage.

"Ron's told us, 'no more than eight miles a day!'" Cantin said. "He keeps reiterating that the work is already done and there's no sense in getting uptight."

In fact, if there's a luxury in being the 25th team going in, it's in knowing that nobody will expect to look back and see a blue singlet around the four-mile mark - a priceless intangible for the Wolverines.

"There's pride on the line, but there's no pressure," Cantin said. "Two years ago, we were feelin' it - we had a super team and we were built up by other schools as a contender."

As usual, Warhurst refuses to make any predictions. Yesterday, he deftly dodged an inquiry about where he expects the team to finish.

"Anywhere between first and last," Warhurst said with a wink.

Probably closer to first, but stranger things have happened in the hit-or-miss national meet. As many as 25 runners could pass in an interval of 10 seconds - not exactly a soothing pre-race thought.

Michigan's famous strategy of starting slow and surging in the end can work, if the patience is there.

"It's going to be crucial to stay focused in this one," Tom Caughlin said. "At nationals, it's like Bulls on Parade.

11-18-99