Bloomsburg University

BLOOMSBURG—Head Coach Bernie Empie has a lot to look forward to as he enters his second season at the helm of the Bloomsburg University men’s cross country program.

After graduating two of their top seven runners, the Huskies may lack the stars needed to elevate their team to the national level, but with a fleet of sophomores maturing on the team, there will certainly be no lack of depth.

“This will likely be a transition year for us,” notes Head Coach Bernie Empie. “Ship, Lock Haven and Edinboro didn’t lose a whole lot of talent. After that, the No. 4 through 10 spots in the conference are up for grabs.”

Following their fifth-place finish at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship last year, the Huskies were selected as the No. 7 team in the 2010 PSAC preseason coaches’ poll.

Shippensburg received 10 of 15 first-place votes to secure the top spot in the PSAC survey with the remaining top votes going to second-place Lock Haven and third-place Edinboro. The same three teams topped the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region rankings; Bloomsburg was tabbed ninth in the region.

Expect Bloomsburg’s Bobby Furman to be out front again this year for the Huskies. The junior finished 21st at last year’s NCAA Atlantic Regional and returns with another year of experience in his shoes. Senior Jared Arnold and junior David Moyer will likely be right behind Furman in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.

Brent Balmer, who placed in the top 60 at last season’s regional, was one of the top runners in Bloomsburg’s large sophomore class. With classmates Michael Hookham and Nick Patton, the sophomores could be relied upon to push the Huskies front-runners and round out their scoring efforts.

Senior Auston Martzall and junior Kevin Grier had been scorers at times in 2009, and both could be effective for the Maroon and Gold this season.

For the relatively small class of incoming freshman, less can be said with certainty. “The transition from high school to college is very challenging on the men’s side,” explains Empie. “You go from running 5k [3.1 miles] in high school to 10k [6.2 miles] at the end of the college season. It’s tougher to predict.”

To Empie, the success of his team will be most dependent on what his runners have been doing this summer. “At this level, you can’t get by on just ability. Lack of training will catch up to you in a hurry.”

If Empie’s athletes have done their homework, their efforts will be rewarded in November.

Bloomsburg opens its 2010 campaign with the Bucknell Open on September 4. The team will host its only home competition—The Husky Invitational—on October 9.

PSAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll (first-place votes)
1. Shippensburg (10)
2. Lock Haven (3)
3. Edinboro (2)
4. East Stroudsburg
5. Slippery Rock
6. IUP
T7. Bloomsburg
T7. Millersville
9. California
10. Kutztown
11. Mansfield
12. West Chester
13. Mercyhurst
14. Gannon
15. Cheyney

Atlantic Region Rankings
1. Shippensburg
2. Edinboro
3. Lock Haven
4. Millersville
5. Slippery Rock
6. East Stroudsburg
7. California (Pa.)
8. Wheeling Jesuit
9. Bloomsburg (Pa.)
10. Indiana (Pa.)