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WVU Opens 2015 Season with Alumni Race
August 31, 2015 05:17 PM | Cross Country
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University cross country team will open the 2015 season with the WVU Alumni Open on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m., at the Mon River Rail Trail.
“We always try to open the season with a competition that is low key in nature, yet serving our needs for kick starting the year,” said coach Sean Cleary. “It has been a few years since we opened at home against alumni. I feel it's important to bring past Mountaineers together with the current team.”
The last time the Mountaineers hosted a WVU Alumni Open was in 2012, when they had six alumni participate in a 4k, pairing in groups of two.
There will be several WVU Alumni, including four-time All-American and Olympic Trial qualifier Clara Santucci, two-time Olympic Trial qualifier Heather Parks, Olympic Trial qualifier Aubrey Moskal and four-time All-American Kaitlyn Gillespie.
“This group has some very big shoes to fill in order to maintain the legacy that those before them established. Competing against them helps establish that tone,” said Cleary. “We will compete some of our newest student-athletes unattached, to establish whether or not we will compete them this year for WVU.
“Some of our veterans and those who have slight injuries will not compete. The luxury in competing with an open competition is simply to ease ourselves into the season. I am looking to find out how well our summer trainings went.”
Flashing back at the 2014 season, WVU placed eighth overall at the NCAA Championship, marking its fifth top-10 finish since 2007. Thirteen letterwinners return, along with six of the seven runners that competed at the national championship including All-American Jillian Forsey, who placed 14th overall at the event.
The start line for the race will be located on the Mon River Rail Trail, on Industrial Ave., behind Terra Café. See directions below.
2015 Season Outlook
Cleary’s Groundwork
Coach Sean Cleary enters his ninth year as head coach for the cross country team and his 23rd season overall with the program. Cleary has experienced great success at the helm, guiding WVU to nine NCAA appearances, six of which have been during Cleary’s head coaching tenure. The Georgetown, Ontario, native coached West Virginia to a second-place finish at the 2014 Big 12 Cross Country Championship for its second straight season, as well as a second-place result at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Regional. At the 2014 NCAA Championship WVU recorded its fifth NCAA top-10 finish since 2007, placing eighth overall. Cleary also served as President of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Goals
In most sports, the goal of the season is to win conference meets, but not for Cleary. Cleary’s goal is to maximize the team’s potential. Last season, the Mountaineers boasted young talent who have grown on their experience this season. Cleary looks to build on that confident mindset and prepare his team for what matters most: the Big 12 Championship, the Mid-Atlantic Regional and the NCAA Championship.
Seniors
The 2015 cross country roster gained a few more seniors: Savanna Plombon, Kelly Williams and Sydney Scott. Plombon competed in the 2013 National Championship where WVU placed 24th overall. Although she redshirted in 2014, she is determined to come out strong in her final season as a Mountaineer.
Williams had a successful season in 2014, mastering academics and athletics. Williams competed at the 2014 NCAA Championship, winning the Elite 89 Award. The award is given to one who has the highest cumulative GPA out of all participants.
Scott, a Denver native, also returns for the 2015 season.
Juniors
With a young squad last season, WVU has a lot of rising talent to unveil. Jillian Forsey, Paige Szabat and Megan Yuan are a few of the rising juniors this season.
Forsey earned All-America honors at the 2014 NCAA Championship, where she placed 14th overall, improving on her 2013 finish by more than 100 spots. At the 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Forsey finished second overall, earning all-region.
Yuan competed at the 2013 NCAA Championship, crossing the line in 195th. Although she did participate last season, she’s ready to compete this season and expose her talents. Szabat has also been gaining experience along the way. At the 2014 Big 12 Championship, she placed 49th overall and ninth among all WVU competitors. Brianna Kerekes and Peyton Hampson return for the 2015 season, as well.
Sophomores
Maggie Drazba, Brynn Harshbarger, Rachel Faulds, Millie Paladino, Amy Cashin and Allie Diehl are ready to emerge this season.
Drazba came out strong as a freshman last year. She earned the 2014 NCAA All Mid-Atlantic Region title, along with Harshbarger. The two competed at the 2014 NCAA Championship together as freshmen. They are looking forward to the opportunities that this season will bring them.
In her first year running cross country, Cashin competed in the 2013 NCAA Championship as WVU placed 24th overall. In 2014, Cashin did not compete, but she is expected to take over this season.
Newcomers
There are five newcomers who are joining the 2015 team: Anna French, Olivia Hill, Candace Jones, Andrea Pettit and Peyton Panger.
“The most impressive high school resume is Minnesota native Anna French. Anna has the potential to have an immediate impact on the Mountaineer program,” said Cleary.
Directions:
From WVU Coliseum: Take a left onto Monongahela Blvd at the light. At the next traffic light take a right onto Boyers Ave., near Sheetz. At the next stop sign take a left onto University Ave. In 200 feet, make the next right onto Industrial Ave., and Terra café will be on the right.
Terra Café: 425 Industrial Ave, Morgantown, WV 26501
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