The 2009 Moravian College men’s cross country team looks to challenge for the Landmark Conference Championships with the squad returning a majority of its top runners, including nine letterwinners for the men. The Greyhounds are going into the 2009 season with high hopes ahead of them as fourth-year head coach Welles Lobb looks into building his young team up enough to be a top competitor in the Landmark Conference.

Leading the men’s team is junior Connor Skutches (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS), who recorded his best time of the season, 26:49, at the 35th Paul Short Run where he placed 33rd. Skutches, pictured at right, finished seventh at the 2008 Landmark Conference Championships to earn a spot on the Landmark All-Conference First Team.

Sophomore Matthew Lutcza (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley HS) ran his best time of 27:30, at the Paul Short Run and finished 16th in the conference meet while sophomore Zach Rivenbark (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh HS) ran his best time of 27:58 at the Lehigh Valley Championship and finished 36th in the conference meet. Senior Steve DeFazio (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville HS) ran a 28:44 at the Lehigh Valley Championship and finished 34th in the conference meet.

Also posting season best times at the Paul Short Run were senior Timothy Betz (Havertown, PA/Haverford HS), who ran a 29:10 and senior Steve Parisi (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley HS), who ran a 29:17. Two other Hounds also had season bests at the Paul Short Run, junior Jacob Tazik (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing HS), who ran a 30:10, and sophomore Jonathan Gutierrez (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS), who ran a 32:41. Junior Jesse Miller (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg HS) ran his personal best at the 2008 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional, running a 30:12.

Coach Lobb has a strong recruiting class coming into this year for the men with several runners expected to make an immediate impact.

The Greyhounds will open the 2009 season on Friday, September 4th at the Lehigh Valley Games taking place at Lehigh University. The 2009 Landmark Conference Championships will be hosted by The Catholic University of America on October 31st in Washington, DC.