Issue date: 10/20/04 Section: Sports

Suffolk University has an official men's cross country team-finally.

It has been seven years since there were enough agile participants, but the team is united once again with five runners.

Outstanding rookie Cole Dillon, as well as Nick Cifuentes, joined returning members James Liberge, Will Feldman and Adi Utama, to fulfill the five player minimum protocol that is required at cross country meets to be considered a team.

Underestimated by most and challenged by few, the Rams impressively placed third at Daniel Webster, 15th at the Pop Crowell Invitational, 11th at Western New England College and 10th at Roger Williams University.

Liberge, a senior from Saugus and Dillon, a freshman from Saybrook, CT, have been the team leaders.

Racing head to head at the Oct. 15 Rivier meet, Liberge finished in seventh place at 28 minutes 44 seconds followed by Dillon at 28:45, which helped Suffolk earn fourth.

Although Rivier was a small race, Coach Don Murray encouraged the boys to gain a bit of "extra knowledge about the course" with the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship being held there on Oct. 30.

Assisted by Lou Greenwald and Karen McKetchnie, Murray has been an inspirational leader to the Ram's cross country runners for the past four years.

Remarkably celebrating his 70th birthday this month, Murray trains with his team, runs six days a week, works out regularly and participates in an average of 30 races per year.

Training for the races is a vital part of Murray's coaching method. Typically running five kilometers (3.1 miles) each Saturday, the Rams are encouraged to run 10 miles once or twice a week with the team in South Boston, either at Joe Moakley Park or on their own.

"Obviously, the number one item on any student's plate is school," said Murray.

"I don't allow my runners to skip classes or work for practice. I tell them if you can't train with me, train on your own."

Continued...

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