Courtesy Alison Wade/New York Road Runners Senior tri-captain Mike Smith.
Franklyn Sanchez
After a phenomenal freshman season, including a fifth-place finish at cross country nationals, a record-setting 13:38.39 time in the 5,000m at the Stanford Invitational and a 4:02 mile carry at Penn Relays, junior Franklyn Sanchez seemed destined to go down in the Georgetown history books as the best track athlete of all time. But subsequent to his early accomplishments, debilitating injuries have left the star sidelined for much of the past two years. Although facing the prospect of missing his second straight cross country season, Sanchez is remaining optimistic.
“This summer I was in the same boat as Chris Miltenberg, rehabbing and figuring out what I’m trying to do,” Sanchez said. “I’ve been hurt consistently, off and on, for the past 15 months. I decided to have surgery, and if everything goes well, I’m willing to put it out on the line – even if it means only coming in at the end of the season.”
“Obviously Franklyn is a great talent, and now he just needs to get himself back on track, both as far as overcoming some injury problems and being willing to go out there and be a role runner, and just run to help the team out,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “He’s talented enough that even when he’s not at his personal best, he can still go out and contribute to the team’s success.”
“What he’s done speaks for itself,” senior ike Smith said. “If he can get healthy and get in the top seven, he can make a big impact. Now he just has to fight his fight, and hopefully things will fall into place.”
Rod Koborsi
In his freshman season, current sophomore Rod Koborsi may have logged enough frequent flyer miles to last a lifetime. After claiming a second place finish at the Junior National Cross Country Championships in Seattle, Koborsi traveled with the nation’s best distance runners to Dublin, Ireland for the World Championships, where he was the first American to cross the line. A few months later, in Palo Alto, Calif., he won the Junior National 5,000m Championship and earned a ticket to Jamaica for the World Track and Field Championships, where he placed 11th overall.
“I had a really busy summer,” Koborsi said. “I got sort of a late start training for cross country, but so far everything is going well.”
As Georgetown’s top finisher at nationals last year, Koborsi led a young team and maintained a consistently high level of performance.
“It’s evident that as a freshman, Rod had a huge impact on this team,” junior Franklyn Sanchez said. “The fact that he finished at NCAA’s with his nose bleeding demonstrates that he won’t disappoint us, no matter the circumstances.”
“Rod is somebody who can overcome little bumps in the road and still go out and perform well,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “Last year, he didn’t have a whole lot of consistent, quality training, but every time he went out there, he still had a good race. Even though he’s a sophomore, he provides a lot of leadership and the guys know they can count on him to go out every race and run well.”
Chris Miltenberg
As one of the team’s three captains, senior Chris iltenberg will be a factor this season in one way or another. Currently battling an injury, he’s questionable for the crosscountry season, but his vocal leadership is something on which the team thrives, and it will certainly play a pivotal role in the team’s journey back to the national championships.
“Chris has had some injury problems in the last year, and we’re not going to rush him just to get ready for cross country,” Henner said. “It’s important that he has a very good indoor and outdoor season, so we’re not going to in any way jeopardize those to get him ready for cross country. He may be ready to run in November if things go extremely well, but we’re definitely not going to force the issue.”
“He says he won’t be running cross country, but it doesn’t matter, because he’ll help us either way – that’s his personality, and that’s why he’s a captain,” junior Franklyn Sanchez said. “He’s a strong leader, and in my opinion, would have a big impact spiritually, even if he’s not running. We need him to be there no mater what.”
Chris Esselborn
Back in high school, current sophomores Chris Esselborn and Rod Koborsi would duke it out as bitter enemies on the Texas cross country courses. Now, the two have joined forces to create one of the most potent young duos in the nation.
“We’re both from the Houston area, so I’ve known Chris since my freshman year of high school,” Koborsi said. “Back then we were always rivals, but I’ve always had a lot of respect for him. Now it’s different having him as a teammate, and I’m excited about spending the next couple of years together.”
“Chris is a very consistent racer and extremely hard worker,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “The big thing for him is to not work too hard. Sometimes in the past he’s over-worked and over-trained. But every time he steps on the line, you know he’s going to go out and run well.”
Javon Broderick
Like with all Georgetown activities, being a member of the cross country team requires certain sacrifices. While this usually comes in the form of simple time or hard work, senior Javon Broderick went out last season and sacrificed his body.
“Dylan and I decided to go on a hip-crushing run last year, and after that, I got bursitis in the hip and I didn’t run for the whole month of October,” Broderick said. “After that, I ran every other day because I had to run districts and nationals. The swelling needed rest, but I didn’t have time to rest it, so I had to just run through it, and it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. I couldn’t walk for the next couple weeks after nationals, and I took the whole month off, and just went to therapy everyday.”
“I respect Javon a lot,” junior Franklyn Sanchez said. “I would have never run hurt the way he did. I don’t have that mindset and toughness. But he’s a true leader, and an experienced guy who should do big things this year.”Javon is a great competitor,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “He leads us by always going out and giving 100 percent in all the races. He always runs up to his fitness level, or even above it. And that’s how he’ll supply leadership this year. He’s been healthy consistently since [last fall], and made some huge jumps in outdoor track. He was third in the IC4A meet in the 5,000m, and was consistently our best 1,500m runner last year, so he’s somebody who we feel is a national-caliber runner.”
Mike Smith
After redshirting the 2001 season, senior tri-captain Mike Smith is hungry. In 2000, he claimed top-five finishes at the Big East Championships and Mid-Atlantic Regionals, but fell victim to the flu the week before the national championships. After holding out a season, Smith is looking for redemption and has become so hungry that his insatiable desire to succeed may turn out to be his only weakness.
“Mike Smith is extremely dedicated and very intense about his running,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “He has run at a very high level for us consistently, and as long as he keeps himself under control, he should have a great season. Two years ago he ran No. 1 for us a couple times, was fifth in the Big East meet and finished ninth at pre-nationals, so if you’re looking at all of our runners, you’d have to say he’s our top returning guy.”
Dylan Welsh
Determination can be exhibited in a variety of ways, but one glaring example would be to do what senior Dylan Welsh did last summer, and log 70 miles a week with a torn tendon. Tough, dedicated and resilient, Welsh is determined to make his final year at Georgetown a success – and 100 percent healthy or not – he’ll be out there in an effort to end his collegiate career on a high-note.
“What I tried to do over the summer was get the volume in, and no matter how slow, still get the number of miles coach told me to get,” Welsh said. “I was doing 70 miles per week and wearing a boot when I wasn’t running. It turned out it was a torn tendon and not a stress fracture, and it wasn’t a bad tear, so I could work through it.”
“Both Dylan and Dan [Tebbano] really worked hard over the summer, and came into the first week and ran very well,” sophomore Rod Koborsi said. “Their attitude has really changed, and I’m looking forward to how they’ll do this cross country season.”
“Dylan is very talented and capable of having a huge impact on this team,” Assistant Coach Patrick Henner said. “If he runs to his capabilities, he can make us a much, much better team.”
