MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University cross country team will head out to Madison, Wisconsin, and University Park, Pennsylvania, to compete at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational on Friday, Oct. 16, at noon ET., and the Penn State Open on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m.

 

The Mountaineers will split the squad, having selected runners compete in each meet. The seventh annual Wisconsin Adidas Invite, will be hosted at the Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course. WVU will compete in two races, the women’s A 6k event at noon ET, and the women’s B 6k event at 1:30 p.m. ET.

“Wisconsin is a monster,” said coach Sean Cleary. “While there will be some of the best teams in the country missing from this meet, we will basically be running the national championship tomorrow. Instead of 31 teams competing at the NCAA meet, tomorrow will feature 35.”

 

In 2014, West Virginia placed fifth overall at Wisconsin, finishing ahead of 17 nationally ranked teams. Four underclassmen had top-six finishes with current junior Jillian Forsey crossing the line first for Mountaineers.

 

“It's important to come into this race, and simply run to our potential,” said Cleary. “Keeping ones emotions in check and not getting discouraged being in the pack is essential. Our training is progressing nicely, and our spirits are more confident. We are running our fittest girls and with seven good races, we will accomplish our goals.”

 

The Nittany Lions host the Penn State Open this Saturday at the Blue-White Gold Course with a total of 30 teams. The meet is open for additional, but limited, individual and team participants.

 

West Virginia alumnae Keri Bland and Clara Grandt hold top women’s performances and records at the Blue-White Golf Couse (6k) trail at Penn State. Bland holds the third-best time of 20:11 (2008) and Grandt is fourth with a time of 20:17 in 2008.

 

“Our Penn State crew has a very unique opportunity,” said Cleary. “They are running on one of the courses that we feel at home running on. Meets like this are invaluable for our program. This is our developing group; young ladies that I fully expect to be impact athletes over the next few years.”

 

Later this month, the Mountaineers will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to compete at the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, Oct. 31. This will be the Cowboy’s third time hosting the event on the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course, as they most recently hosted in 2010.