Cross country teams open seasons, place ninth at Wingate Invitational
Posted by The Skyliner on September 16th, 2009Billy Cannada
Staff Writer
A new season is often cause for optimism, with a clean slate and new opportunities for improvement. The North Greenville men’s and women’s cross country teams enter the 2009 season believing they have reason for excitement.
“This team is much stronger than last year’s team,” Crusader coach Micah Sepko said. “We are much more athletic this year, and everyone has trained harder.”
The North Greenville men and women opened the season Saturday, both finishing ninth at the Wingate Invitational. Sepko said he was pleased with the start of both teams, but believes there is room for improvement.
“We were still playing with some injuries and we showed a lot of areas for improvement,” said Sepko. “But, overall, it was a good race.”
Four Crusaders—T.C. Ford, Andrew Mosteller, Justin Everett and Daniel Stockwell—finished in the top 50 in the 8-kilometer race to lead the men. Mosteller, a freshman in his first collegiate race, led North Greenville, placing 22nd with a time of 31:02. Everette, a sophomore, placed 44th with a time of 33:35 while Stockwell and Ford finished 48th and 49th with times of 33:53 and 34:01 respectively. The men averaged a time of 33:46.
The North Greenville women, who compete in a 6-kilometer race, averaged a 31:32 time. Sophomore Anita Casey, a transfer from Mars Hill, was the top finisher for the Lady Crusaders, placing 27th with a time of 29:07. North Greenville seniors Ariel Seppala (36th) and Erin Davis (45th) also finished in the top 50.
Mosteller, Stockwell, Everett and Michael Southern are four new additions to the men’s team that are expected to make major contributions this season.
“We have four new faces who are excellent runners that complete our top seven guys,” Ford said. “We have improved in the area of speed and our times are less spread apart making us a better scoring team. Our team is in much better position to place well in our races. As a team our goal has always been just to give it our best.”
Stockwell says he believes the team will show great improvements this season as they compete.
“We want to push and encourage each other to do the best we can,” said Stockwell,” a junior. “We try to set the bar higher for each other.”
Sepko said he expects the women to be improved by the additions of newcomers Casey, Seppala, Jill Forthaus and Whintney Yerrick.
The coach said he is realistic about his expectations for the season but believes the team can reach goals.
“We know we are probably not a national championship team,” Sepko said. “Getting to regionals at Wingate is our biggest goal.”
Both the men and the women will run again at the Winthrop/Asics Cross Country Invitational in Rock Hill on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 2