Senior Brent Des Roches, a two-time team MVP, redshirted last fall to participate in an engineering co-op program.,”A year older and a year wiser, the men's cross country team adds a pair of accomplished runners to a roster that includes last year's team MVP and plans to vastly improve its performance.

Senior Brent Des Roches, a two-time team MVP, redshirted last fall to participate in an engineering co-op program. Scott Mueller transferred to Marquette last January from Wisconsin-Lacrosse. The duo likely will comprise the Golden Eagles' top two slots.

"We've got those two guys added to the team without adding any new recruits," head coach Dave Uhrich said. "With the other guys that we have returning being a year older and a better summer of training, we think that we can be one of the most improved teams in the Midwest, if not the country."

Sophomore Kyle Saginus, senior Jeremy Williams and junior Josh Pinter will fill the three remaining slots. In Williams, the Golden Eagles return their reigning team MVP and co-captain. Marquette is stockpiled with leadership, something it lacked last season.

"We only lost one guy, so we're returning pretty much everyone," Williams said. "We're all really excited and we're gunning for a spot at nationals."

In order to be granted an automatic bid to the national championship, Marquette must finish first or second at the Great Lakes Regional Championships on Nov. 11. If not, it would hope to be one of the 13 teams selected by the NCAA for an at-large bid. The top three runners from non-qualifying teams at the regional also get automatic bids to the nationals.

The NCAA considers four major meets when granting at-large bids: the Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 23), the Pre-National Invitational (Oct. 14), the Big East Championships (Oct. 27) and the Great Lakes Regional.

To contend in these races, Marquette will need Des Roches to return to his form of two years ago when he was the team's strongest runner. He bruised his heel last spring during a steeplechase at a track meet. The injury led to tendonitis and other minor problems that hampered his training for the better part of the summer.

"I wasn't dealing with anything major, but even minor injuries hurt your desire and motivation," Des Roches said. "But I feel better now. We have four weeks until the Griak's, and I want to be in shape by then."

In order to compete on the national level, Marquette's top five runners must be around 25:00 in 8,000 meters, Uhrich said.

It is crucial that Des Roches' health not flare up if the Golden Eagles are to be one of the Midwest's most improved teams. He has begun running 80-plus miles per week again, the amount he ran last season when he was in peak shape.

"I've never had problems choking at big meets or anything like that," Des Roches said when asked if he feels pressure. "We like to think we have an outside chance at nationals if we stay healthy and train smart. We've got the potential, now it's a matter of realizing that potential."

Marquette opens competition tomorrow in Champaign, Ill., at the Illini Open. The meet does not count toward qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

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