Canes XC Heads to Appalachian State
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country team will travel to Appalachian State to compete at the Mountain to Sea Duals in Boone, N.C.
The Hurricanes will have 13 runners, seven men and six women, in action in a meet that will feature Miami, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina and the host, Appalachian State. The women will compete first, running their 5000m at 5:30 p.m. ET, while the men’s 6400m is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.
“This meet will allow us to experience some similar conditions to what we will face at conference next month,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “Overall, we have looked better at each practice session over the past two weeks. Now it’s time to put that together into a complete race.”
Miami’s Gabrielle Hesslau will lead the women’s team in Boone, heading into the race fresh off her third consecutive victory at the FAU Invitational. The senior opened the 2016 season with a time of 18:35.3 in the women’s 5K.
Anne Den Otter is another Hurricane to watch this weekend at the Mountain to Sea Duals. The sophomore began her 2016 season with a sixth place finish at the FAU Invitational, posting a time of 19:12.6.
Carla Rodriguez (12th) and Mulloy Manning (15th) gave the Hurricanes women four finishers in the top 15 at the FAU invitational, while Megan Brown and Molly Rickles round out the women slated to compete this weekend in Boone.
On the men’s side, Sean Grossman enters the Mountain to Sea Duals as Miami’s top male competitor. The junior opened his 2016 season finishing second at the FAU Invitational 5K with a time of 15:37.9. Senior Jon Keller gave Miami two top five finishers at FAU with his fifth place finish (15:45.3).
Adam George and Sean Hagert made it four top 20 finishers for Miami in the men’s 5K at the FAU Invitational, as George placed 14th and Hagert finished 18th. Michael Miano, Luke Dublirer and Nick Kaleel will also run for Miami at this weekend’s Mountain to Sea Duals.
“It will be a special weekend with us competing the day before our football team plays in Boone,” Griffiths said. “We hope to see lots of Hurricane fans out at the meet.”
Following this weekend’s races in Boone, N.C., the Canes will close out the month of September in Gainesville, Fla., racing in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 24.
Miami 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.
NCAA Regional Championships are slated for Nov. 11 in Tallahassee, Fla., with the NCAA Championships taking place on Nov. 19 in South Bend, Ind.
Miami Lineups
Men: Sean Grossman, Jon Keller, Adam George, Sean Hagert, Luke Dublirer, Nick Kaleel, Michael Miano
Women: Gabrielle Hesslau, Anne Den Otter, Carla Rodriguez, Mulloy Manning, Megan Brown, Molly Rickles
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