MILWAUKEE - It was one of the tightest finishes in conference history. Three runners crossed the line just five seconds apart, all jockeying for position in a tough finish kick.

Pather junior Abby Hurst was right in the thick of that finish, but ended up being the third across the line. One could only wonder how this effected her. Was it frustrating? Encouraging?

For Abby, it was inspiring.

"It's really motivated me for this year," said Hurst, who played out that exact scene at last year's Midwestern Collegiate Conference Championships. Hurst finished the race in 18:20.67, a personal best, and just five seconds behind the meet's winner, Jessica Kuhr of Wright State, and just a second and a half behind Kristyne McGuinn of Loyola. The finish has become an integral part of her preparation for the 2001 season.

"It was a good experience for me...it's made me train harder and believe that I can be one of the better runners in the conference this year," she said.

Hurst was just a sophomore last year, but was the team's top runner for most of the season and comes into this year as the most decorated and dependable runner on the women's team.

Hurst and the rest of the Panthers aren't just looking for individual glory in 2001, though. The team started the 2000 season strong, blowing out UW-Green Bay in a dual meet to start the year (the Panther women took the first six places) and taking second at the Central Collegiate Championships in the season's second meet.

Still, a number of nagging injuries meant that the Panthers' order of finish never remained consistent, and the team ended the 2000 campaign with two rough meets. At the conference meet, the women took third, but missed out on second place by just one point. Then, at the Great Lakes Regional Championships, the team couldn't even surpass a Detroit team they had beaten twice during the season, taking 24th out of 31 teams.

The tough end to the season, however, hasn't gotten the team down. Like Hurst, everyone's tired of being `close' and is ready to work to make it happen in 2001.

"We've run together over the summer a few times, and you can tell," Hurst said. "We really kind of feed off of each other and train a lot better. It's really exciting."

Among those looking to come back from injuries in 2001 will be Brianne Peterson. The Panthers' top runner after transfering from Northern Illinois, Peterson wasn't able to take part in any of the 2000 meets with a number of nagging injuries. A healthy Peterson, who will retain her junior eligibility, will mean an even stronger Panther rotation that could possibly have all five counters at this years' Horizon League Championships finish 15th or better.

Also looking to return to return to action after some time out will be Leah Van Roy. A top-25 runner in the MCC as a sophomore, Van Roy also didn't run in any of the Panther's meets in 2000 and will certainly be welcomed back by Coach Corfeld and the rest of the team in 2001.

As with any injured athlete, though, there were others in the Panther program that were able to capitalize on the absence of Brianne and Leah and make their presence in the top five felt. One of those runners was senior Tricia Pozel. A dedicated runner and an emotional leader, Pozel started last year as the team's fifth runner, but ended up as the top UWM finisher at the Greate Lakes Regionals, the final meet of the year.

A number of younger runners also stepped up last year, with the most immediate success coming to Alison Shattuck and Natalie Miko. Shattuck and Miko, both running collegiately for the first time last year, finished third and fourth, respectively, at the first meet of the year in Green Bay.

Both had up and down seasons, however, and landed in various spots in the Panthers' finishing order before the year was over. Now that both know what to expect, however, one can only believe that they will find a more consistent zone in 2001 and improve on their times.

Joining Shattuck and Miko in what is a strong sophomore class are Karen Brisky, who ran every race last year and made it into the top five on occasion, and Katie Seep. Seep ran sprints for the Panther track team in 2000-2001, but did not run cross country at UWM as a freshman. Seep has experience at the longer distance, however, having lettered four times in cross country while at Reedsburg High School.

Among the veterans looking to crack into the top five will be Katie Olander. A consistent number six runner in 2000, the former high school valedictorian will need to pass a couple teammates up to make it into the counters, but with the state of the returning runners still in some doubt, Olander, a consistent, experienced runner, might be one to watch in 2001.

Also looking to contribute right away willbe the Panthers' two incoming freshmen, Natalie Toffe, Christine Wampach, and Rose Feroah. Each had successful high school careers in both track and cross country and are anxious to continue their running careers and help contribute to the team at UWM.

Loyola and Butler will likely be the teams to beat again in the newly-renamed Horizon League, but the Panthers know they have to be considered among the favorites. With memories of last year's `close' finishes in the back of their heads, these Panthers don't want to leave any doubt about their place in the league in 2001.