Miami XC Ready for Mountain Dew Invitational
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s and women’s cross country teams are back in action this weekend, competing at the 2015 Mountain Dew Invitational.
Fifteen Hurricanes will compete in Gainesville this weekend, with eight men and seven women set to run in their respective races. The Men’s 8K race is scheduled to begin at 7:55 a.m., followed by the women’s 5K race at 8:30 a.m.
“The Mountain Dew Invitational will provide a different level of competition from our first meet,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “The meet has several of the state’s best teams, led by Florida, in the field of 30. We have to concentrate on being better at keeping the packs together for longer periods this week.”
Miami’s women will be led by Gabrielle Hesslau. The junior enters the weekend fresh off running a personal-best 17:56.9 to win her second consecutive FAU Invitational 5K. Hesslau will look to build of her impressive 2015 opening time which ranks fifth all-time on Miami’s women’s 5K list.
Others to watch on the women’s side are freshman Ann Den Otter and sophomore Mulloy Manning, both who posted personal-best times at the FAU Invitational on Sept. 4. Den Otter’s time of 18:51.2 ranks ninth on UM’s all-time 5K list, while Manning’s time of 19:58.7 was good enough to place her eighth at the FAU Invitational.
The Hurricane men will look to veterans Sean Grossman and Jon Keller to lead the way in Gainesville Grossman was Miami’s top finisher in the men’s 5K at the FAU Invitational, placing sixth with a time of 16:02.0. Keller also turned in a solid showing, placing 11th with a time of 16:28.6. Freshman Sean Hagert is another runner to watch for Miami this weekend after the freshman placed in the Top 15 in his collegiate debut at the FAU Invitational.
The Canes will also have Adam George, Alex Margetts, Kevin Marsh, Luke Dublirer and Nick Kaleel running in the men’s 8K race, while Andrea Harrah, Carla Rodriguez, Megan Brown and Kelly Williamson round out Miami’s competitors in the women’s 5K race.
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