CHAMPAIGN – Michelle Byrne will have to look elsewhere. The logical leader of her pack has dropped out of the running.

Byrne learned last week that her Illinois women's cross-country team will be without its No. 1 runner of 1997. Senior Danielle Fonzino, the UI's top finisher in four of the six meets she ran in last year, has decided to leave the team for personal reasons.

"It is a very tough blow for us," Byrne said, "but she made a decision based on what is best for her right now."

Fonzino's departure means the second-year UI coach must search anew for a front runner to pull her young team along.

"When you lose your No. 1 runner from a year ago, it's going to have an effect," Byrne said. "With this group, I hope we can rally and get the job done. We have to. ... It's just that some people we weren't relying on so heavily before will have to step up."

Byrne has several candidates in mind to assume the leadership reins. There's junior Lindsay Speer, who was among Illinois' top two finishers in four meets last year.

There's sophomore Lindsay Martin, who came on strong at the end of her first collegiate season. The Decatur native was the UI's No. 2 finisher in the Big Ten meet and its No. 3 in the NCAA District V race.

There are juniors Candace Nicholson and Tara Mendozza. Although track is their forte, these middle-distance standouts have proven they can be strong factors in this sport as well. Mendozza was Illinois' No. 3 finisher in the Big Ten meet last year, while Nicholson was the cross-country team's MVP as a freshman.

"When she puts her mind to it, Candace can run with anybody," Byrne said.

But whether either can fit the traditional leadership niche remains to be seen. As she did last year, Byrne plans to be selective in the use of her middle-distance runners this fall as she monitors their training for the long haul. For example, Byrne intends to withhold Nicholson from today's season opener at Illinois State.

"Cross-country is important to us, but it's only one-third of our season," said Byrne, who's also a UI women's track assistant. "We're not going to race them in all meets. How we train them ... is designed to take them all the way to the middle of June for (outdoor) track nationals."

By Byrne's design, the cross-country leader she seeks would push hard to stay with the race leaders. In turn, the rest of the Illini pack would have to push harder themselves to stay with their leader.

"When somebody has the ability to run hard up at the top, as a group it will help us move forward," Byrne said.

Which Byrne is eager to do after the UI finished sixth in the Big Ten last fall for the second consecutive year.

"Sixth was a disappointment for us," Byrne said.