Hurricanes Prepare for Mountain Dew Invitational

Sept. 19, 2008

CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami cross country teams travel to Gainesville this weekend as they take part in the University of Florida’s Mountain Dew Gator Cross Country Invitational. The women’s will be the first to race as they will run the 5K at 8 a.m., with the men going off at 8:30 a.m. on the 8k course.

Associate Cross Country Coach Damon Griffiths is looking forward to the meet. “We have been working hard through the first half of the season. This event is like our mid-term exam.”

Ryan Woodlee, coming of a No.1 overall finish at the UCF invite a week ago, will lead a contingent of eight men on Saturday. The seniors include, Woodlee, Tim Harris, Eric Miller, Vincent Giambanco, Patrick O’Donnell and Jules Rosen. The remaining runners are freshmen Michael Viklund and Matthew Wilson.

For the women, sophomore Emma Steppe has been the team’s top finisher in the season’s first two meets. She heads a squad of 12 runners that includes Anna Bona, Ena Leufroy, Page Price, Katharine Woodard, Monika Freiser, Caitlin Knapp, Jackie Sullivan, Casey Crist, Kalea Aguon, Anika Arevalo and Jessica Schaumburg.

“Both the men and women have a good opportunity to show what they can do on Saturday,” added Griffiths.

After the Mountain Dew Invite the Hurricanes will have a week off from competition before they return to action at the Florida Runner Invitational In Tittusville, Fla. on Saturday, Oct. 4.