Cross Country to Open at FAU Invitational
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country team will open its 2015 season this Friday at the 2015 FAU Invitational.
The Hurricanes have 19 student-athletes registered to compete in Friday night’s FAU Invitational. Nine women and 10 men are scheduled to compete in their respective 5K races at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton, Fla. The field at the FAU Invitational includes the Hurricanes, FAU, FIU, Nova Southeastern and Lynn University.
“We are excited to open up the season close to home at FAU,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. ”We have been training all preseason and looking forward to seeing where we are to open the season.”
The Hurricane women will be led by junior Gabrielle Hesslau, who was Miami’s top finisher in every race she ran during the 2014 season, including victories at the FAU Invitational and Westminster Academy Invitational, as well as a time of 22:49 at the Paul Short Run that ranks 10th all-time on Miami’s women’s 6K list.
The women’s team also brings back several student-athletes with racing experience including sophomore Mulloy Manning, juniors Megan Brown and Kaitlin Hill, and senior Kelly Williamson. Newcomers Samantha Chenkin, Anne Den Otter, Andrea Harrah and Carla Rodriguez round out the women’s entries this week.
“Gabby had a tremendous summer of training, and I expect her to be ahead of where she was at last at this time,” Griffiths said. “I also expect Anne to have an immediate impact on the team.”
The men’s team has a balance of youth and experience heading into the 2015 season. Sophomores Sean Grossman and Adam George will look to build off their solid freshman season a year ago and step into leadership roles, while junior Jon Keller and senior Kevin Marsh bring maturity and experience to the Hurricane men’s squad. Newcomers Luke Dublirer, Andrew Garvey, Sean Hagert, Nick Kaleel, Alex Margetts and Michael Miano complete the entries on the men’s side.
“The men have looked good during fall practices,” Griffiths said. “Led by Sean Grossman, Jon Keller, Sean Hagert and Kevin Marsh, it is now time to see how they transition into a competition setting.”
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