Canes Announce 2016 Cross Country Schedule
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country program released its 2016 schedule Monday.
The Canes will run in five races in preparation for the ACC Championships in late October.
“We are excited about the schedule for this coming season,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “This schedule will allow the team to experience tougher challenges and courses as the season progresses.”
Miami opens its season at the FAU Invitational on Sept. 2, before traveling to Boone, N.C., to compete at the Mountain to Sea Duals hosted by Appalachian State on Sept. 16. The Canes will close out the month in Gainesville, Fla., racing in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 24.
The Hurricanes will also run in the USF Invitational (Oct. 14) and the Miami Duals (Oct. 20), their final two races before the 2016 ACC Cross Country Championships in Cary, N.C., on Oct. 28. The Miami Duals will be Miami’s first home cross country event since hosting the Miami Greentree Invitational in 2012.
“It has been a few years since we hosted a home meet and we are excited for the opportunity to race in our city with the support of our fans,” Griffiths said.
NCAA Regional Championships are slated for Nov. 11 in Tallahassee, Fla., with the NCAA Championships taking place on Nov. 19 in South Bend, Ind.
The Canes have talented runners returning in 2016 on both the men’s and women’s teams.
Miami’s women will be led by senior Gabrielle Hesslau and sophomore Anne Den Otter. The duo competed at the NCAA South Regional a year ago, closing out the season as the top two Hurricanes on the 2015 roster. Hesslau was Miami’s top runner in 2015, finishing the year ranking third in UM history in the 6K and fourth on the school’s all-time women’s 5K list.
Den Otter was a freshman standout in 2015, climbing into the Miami record books with a 5K time that ranks eighth in school history and the seventh-best women’s 6K in UM history, a time she posted at the NCAA South Regional.
The women’s team also brings back several student-athletes with racing experience including sophomore Carla Rodriguez, junior Mulloy Manning and seniors Megan Brown and Samantha Chenkin.
The men’s team welcomes back a talented mix of runners who will look for big years in 2016. Junior Sean Grossman and senior Jon Keller are expected to pace the Hurricanes this season. Grossman was Miami’s top male runner in 2015, competing at the NCAA South Regional, while Keller had three top 15 finishes as a junior a year ago. Miami’s men will also have six returners with previous race experience, giving the Hurricanes one of their deepest lineups in recent history.
“I am looking forward to seeing how Sean, Jon, Gabby and Anne are able to lead this year’s group,” Griffiths said.
Click here to view Miami’s 2016 cross country schedule.
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