Canes XC Set for NCAA South Regional
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country team will have 10 student-athletes competing at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country South Regional on Friday.
Five men and five women will don Miami’s orange and green at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. The women’s 6K will feature 36 teams and is set to begin at 8:30 a.m., while the men’s 10K has 31 schools entered and is slated to start at 9:30 a.m.
“We are excited to compete at the region meet as a unit,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “We are familiar with the course after running there last season. I feel that we have turned the corner over the past couple of weeks in our training and racing.”
The women will be led by senior Gabrielle Hesslau, whom has been Miami’s top female runner all season. Hesslau is one of the top distance runners in Hurricane history, ranking fourth in school history in the women’s 5K. She enters the NCAA South Regional fresh off running a career-best 6K of 21:34.30 at the ACC Championships that ranks third in Miami history.
Sophomore Anne Den Otter, who ranks seventh in school history in the women’s 6K and eighth in the women’s 5K, is another Cane to watch at the NCAA South Regional, while junior Mulloy Manning, and sophomores Carla Rodriguez and Sarah Raboff complete the group of Miami women scheduled to run in Tallahassee.
On the men’s side, Sean Grossman is at the top of the Hurricanes’ pack. The junior set a school record in the men’s 8K at the 2016 ACC Cross Country Championships, posting a personal-best time of 24:35.40. Grossman will look to build off his outstanding performance from the ACC Championships when he hits the course in this Friday’s 10K.
Like Grossman, seniors Jon Keller and Nick Kaleel, as well as sophomores Michael Miano and Sean Hagert, head to the NCAA South Regional fresh off personal best 8K times at the ACC Championships. The five Miami men will try to continue their stretch of strong running against a talented South Regional field.
Following the NCAA regional races, any qualifying competitors will advance to the NCAA Championships taking place on Nov. 19 in South Bend, Ind.
Miami Lineups
Men: Sean Grossman, Nick Kaleel, Jon Keller, Michael Miano, Sean Hagert
Women: Anne Den Otter, Gabrielle Hesslau, Mulloy Manning, Sarah Raboff, Carla Rodriguez
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