Canes XC Set for Mountain Dew Invitational
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country team will compete at the 2016 Mountain Dew Invitational hosted by the University of Florida.
The Hurricanes have 13 runners, seven men and six women, at a meet that has over 25 different colleges slated to compete. The men’s 8K is set to begin at 7:55 a.m. ET, while the women’s 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. ET. Both races will be run at the University of Florida Golf Course.
“This meet is always a good barometer to see where we are as a team,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “There will be several of the state’s best cross country teams, as well as some from out of state.”
Sean Grossman and Jon Keller will look to lead the Hurricane men in Gainesville. Grossman, a junior, enters the race fresh off his best finish of the season, taking second in the Mountain to Sea Duals 6400m. Keller, a senior, placed seventh at the Mountain to Sea Duals and has been Miami’s second best runner on the men’s side this season.
Sean Hagert, Michael Miano, Luke Dublirer and Adam George will also compete for the Canes in the Mountain Dew Invitational men’s 8K.
“The men have been racing well at shorter distance races, now they have their first test at the full 8k distance,” Griffiths said. “ I’m looking forward to seeing how Sean and Jon and able to compete with the other top runners from the meet.”
On the women’s side, senior Gabrielle Hesslau and sophomore Anne Den Otter continue to be the top two Canes on the course. Hesslau placed third at the Mountain to Sea Duals, while Den Otter finished 16th at the same event in Boone, N.C., a week ago.
Sophomore Carla Rodriguez and junior Mulloy Manning are two other Hurricanes to watch on the women’s side, while Megan Brown, Sophia Corde and Sarah Raboff complete the group that will represent Miami in Gainesville.
“The ladies have a chance to make some major strides as a team this meet,” Griffiths said. “Gabby will need to run her own race up front, and run faster than she has this season in the early miles.”
Following this weekend’s races in Gainesville, the Canes will 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, Michael Miano
Women: Gabrielle Hesslau, Anne Den Otter, Carla Rodriguez, Mulloy Manning, Megan Brown, Sophia Corde, Sarah Raboff
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