SJU Athletics Photos

The Saint Joseph's men's cross country team came into the 2001 season in hopes of replaying last year's success and reclaim a championship title. The 2000 Atlantic 10 champions were led by Karl Savage, who turned in the best individual season in SJU history. Savage won three races including the A-10 crown and qualified for the NCAA Championships. With Koch burst out of the gate at the Fordham Invitational finishing fifth overall while leading the Hawks to a fourth place finish, losing only to Duke, La Salle and Harvard. Due to the tragedies of September 11, the prestigious Spiked Shoe Invitational held at Penn State University was cancelled and SJU went on a two-week hiatus. At the Paul Short Invitational, senior Bill Hoffman jumped out to place 21st in a field of 274 runners. Rosetti was not far behind, placing 24th for the Hawks. SJU placed 6th overall besting 33-teams at the event. At the Penn State Open National Invitational, Hoffman once again broke out for the Hawks earning a 13th place finish overall. SJU's tournament successes were evenly distributed as both upper and under classmen shared the limelight. Next the Hawks sought to reclaim the A-10 title at the Championships held at Philadelphia's own Belmont Plateau. With a fifth place finish for Hoffman, a seventh place finish for Koch and an eighth place finish for Rosetti, the Hawks were within reach of the A-10 crown. Despite the efforts of newcomers Rich Cullin and Collin Martin, city rival La Salle forged ahead to capture the A-10 Championships leaving Saint Joseph's with a disappointing second place finish.