September 4, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y. – The Hobart College harriers have returned to campus prepared to improve on their times from the 2001 season. The team will face challenges in 2002, but everyone is excited to begin a new year.

The Statesmen, led by Head Coach Ron Fleury in his 20th season, lost their top competitor Steve Chabot (Keene/Keene, N.H.) to graduation, and will look to junior Rob Portik-Middleton (Singapore American School/Vero Beach, Fla.) to fill Chabot’s shoes.

Portik-Middleton finished in the top 15 three times in 2001. He turned in a season-best time of 31:09 at Houghton for 10th place. Sophomores, Drew Mosher (Harrisville/Harrisville, N.Y.), Scott Thoms (Brooks School/West Chatham, Mass.) and Max Zimmerly (Holliston/Holliston, Mass.) are returning for the Statesmen with a year of competition under their belts. A strong class of first-years will join the veterans for the 2002 season to round out a solid core of runners.

The Statesmen open their season on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m., at the Buffalo State Invitational.