UC to compete in WVIAC Cross Country Championships
West Virginia Conference cross country runners will converge on the Northern Panhandle for Saturday's conference championship meet. Concord's men and West Virginia Wesleyan's women enter the event as favorites for the top honors in voting by WVIAC head coaches.
Concord, the East Region's seventh ranked men's squad, has not lost to a WVIAC squad this season. The Mountain Lions were the unanimous number one selection in the final league team rankings. Ryan Kent and Randy Horner are each rank among the WVIAC's top five runners, while Adam Coon and Michael Smutko were a part of the 2004 league championship squad.
Defending champion West Virginia Wesleyan is led by Eric Cooper. Cooper, the 2006 race winner, is the top rated individual in the men's field.
Seton Hill is not eligible to officially win the team title, but senior Julian Fiorina is a threat to claim the individual title. Fiorina earned all-conference honors last season and is the second ranked individual in the field.
Other contenders in the men's team battle include Alderson-Broaddus, Davis & Elkins, and Wheeling Jesuit. Two-time All-WVIAC performer Scott Gemberling of Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit's Dustin Hall, Davis & Elkins' Steve Johnson, and Fairmont State's Gerod Green rank among the other top individuals.
West Virginia Wesleyan head coach Jesse Skiles has guided 39 different cross country and track squads to WVIAC championships and he hopes that this season's Bobcat women can push that total to 40. Erin Price and Allison Teter lead the top-ranked Bobcats.
Seton Hill boasts the top ranked women's runner in freshman Anna Cote, a three-time WVIAC Runner of the Week. Head coach Tim Creamer's Griffins also expect a strong effort from Lara Heinz.
West Liberty sophomore Kallen Weaver was the runner-up in last season's meet and the Wheeling native should be a contender in her hometown. Wheeling Jesuit's Sarah Campanelli also should post a strong effort.
Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit, and Concord are squads that could be in the thick of the battle for team honors. Other strong individual contenders for all-conference accolades are Alderson-Broaddus' Katie Antonik, Concord's Amanda Blankenship, and Fairmont State's Kanae Amatasu.
The women's 6K race begins at 10:15 a.m. at Wheeling Park High School. The 8K men's race is slated for an 11:15 a.m. An awards presentation is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Meet Notes:
-Based on NCAA precedent, Seton Hill will be scored as a team. The Griffins were scored as a team last fall at the NCAA regional championships. SHU is eligible for all individual honors, but can't officially win the team title until next season when the Griffins become full NCAA members.
-Plenty of parking will be available in the Wheeling Park HS lots. Parking will be prohibited in the north lot next to the baseball field.
-T-shirts will be available at the meet for $10.
-A combined 6K junior varsity race will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Concord, the East Region's seventh ranked men's squad, has not lost to a WVIAC squad this season. The Mountain Lions were the unanimous number one selection in the final league team rankings. Ryan Kent and Randy Horner are each rank among the WVIAC's top five runners, while Adam Coon and Michael Smutko were a part of the 2004 league championship squad.
Defending champion West Virginia Wesleyan is led by Eric Cooper. Cooper, the 2006 race winner, is the top rated individual in the men's field.
Seton Hill is not eligible to officially win the team title, but senior Julian Fiorina is a threat to claim the individual title. Fiorina earned all-conference honors last season and is the second ranked individual in the field.
Other contenders in the men's team battle include Alderson-Broaddus, Davis & Elkins, and Wheeling Jesuit. Two-time All-WVIAC performer Scott Gemberling of Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit's Dustin Hall, Davis & Elkins' Steve Johnson, and Fairmont State's Gerod Green rank among the other top individuals.
West Virginia Wesleyan head coach Jesse Skiles has guided 39 different cross country and track squads to WVIAC championships and he hopes that this season's Bobcat women can push that total to 40. Erin Price and Allison Teter lead the top-ranked Bobcats.
Seton Hill boasts the top ranked women's runner in freshman Anna Cote, a three-time WVIAC Runner of the Week. Head coach Tim Creamer's Griffins also expect a strong effort from Lara Heinz.
West Liberty sophomore Kallen Weaver was the runner-up in last season's meet and the Wheeling native should be a contender in her hometown. Wheeling Jesuit's Sarah Campanelli also should post a strong effort.
Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit, and Concord are squads that could be in the thick of the battle for team honors. Other strong individual contenders for all-conference accolades are Alderson-Broaddus' Katie Antonik, Concord's Amanda Blankenship, and Fairmont State's Kanae Amatasu.
The women's 6K race begins at 10:15 a.m. at Wheeling Park High School. The 8K men's race is slated for an 11:15 a.m. An awards presentation is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Meet Notes:
-Based on NCAA precedent, Seton Hill will be scored as a team. The Griffins were scored as a team last fall at the NCAA regional championships. SHU is eligible for all individual honors, but can't officially win the team title until next season when the Griffins become full NCAA members.
-Plenty of parking will be available in the Wheeling Park HS lots. Parking will be prohibited in the north lot next to the baseball field.
-T-shirts will be available at the meet for $10.
-A combined 6K junior varsity race will begin at 9:30 a.m.