Pilja shines for rebuilding harriers in 2000

By Shawn Kemp

Daily Sports Writer

All of the hills in Ann Arbor may have served a helpful purpose as the Michigan men's cross country team consistently climbed to the summits of its challenges.

With the loss of 1999 All-Americans Jay Cantin and Steve Lawrence, and coach Ron Warhurst's decision to redshirt All-American Mike Wisniewski, the spot for the No. 1 runner was up for grabs.

Junior Mark Pilja took advantage of the opportunity and led the Wolverines from the start of the season to his debut as the team's lone representative at the NCAA championships.

Pilja finished first for the team in every race he entered. He ended his season with a 17th place finish at nationals, running 30:48 for the 10-kilometer race, good for All-American status.

"Mark Pilja had a tremendous year," Warhurst said. "I think the mere fact that he ran All-American triggered the others to think 'if we train as hard as he did,' that they can do the things he did."

Pilja took his position as the team's leader in stride after two years of practice at the collegiate level.

But the pack of five freshmen that followed Pilja added to the Wolverines' depth. John Hughes, Mason Ward, Tom Greenless, Dave Sage and Ryan Hesselink continually found their presence in the lineup, even at the national level.

"We were taking guys that ran 30-40 miles a week in high school to 60 miles a week at more intensity," Warhurst said about the freshmen's transition. "This isn't your local county meet, where mommy and daddy are holding your hand, where your girlfriend's giving you a hug because you didn't do good.

"This is the big show."

Although Warhurst knew the season would be a struggle from the beginning, his young harriers stepped up for the "big show." The Wolverines finished second at both the Sundodger Invitational and the Murray Keatinge Invitational and made their strongest showing at the NCAA regional, where they finished seventh out of 31 teams.

Warhurst felt that since all of the freshmen had success at one point during the season was promising for next year's cross country team.

With the commitments of Nathan Brannen of Preston High School in Cambridge, Ont. and Alan Webb of South Lakes High School in Reston, Vir. - two of the top prep milers in North America - and the return of Wisniewski, Warhurst is excited for the possibilities of next year.

"The bottom line is that I thought we ended the season on a high note," Warhurst said. "All I can say is wait until next year."

BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily

Junior Tom Caughlan and the Michigan men's cross country team finished seventh in the Big Ten, and the team failed to qualify for the NCAA meet.