The men’s and women’s cross country teams are poised to commence their season at Friday’s Adidas XC Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. After a successful 2015 campaign, the Pack looks forward to picking up right where it left off.
The women will make their season debut ranked No. 5 in the most recent USTFCCCA national poll. With a lineup featuring six returnees from last year’s fifth-place NCAA Championship squad, the future looks bright.
Expect senior Erika Kemp and sophomore Ryen Frazier to lead the way.
Kemp was a consistent performer last cross country season and made significant strides during the indoor track circuit. During 2016, the Mount Holly, New Jersey native set the indoor 5,000 meter school record with a mark of 15:45.46.
Meanwhile, Frazier won last year’s Adidas XC Challenge as a true freshman and frequently crossed the finish line first for the Pack throughout 2015. After redshirting both the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, she should be in prime position to further develop.
Ryen’s older sister, Wesley Frazier, should also be a contender for team frontrunner. After sitting out her mandatory season, the Duke transfer is poised to make her Wolfpack XC debut this Friday.
Redshirt senior Megan Moye will also be looking to end her final season with the Pack on a high note. During 2015 she proved to be a decisive member of the team, crossing the finish line as the Pack’s fourth runner at the NCAA Championships.
The trio of redshirt sophomore Rachel Koon, redshirt junior Alyssa Rudawsky and redshirt senior Kaitlyn Kramer should wrap up a strong top seven for the Pack.
Koon improved greatly throughout the 2015 campaign. By the championship circuit, the T.C. Roberson alumna had established herself as a regular top-three team finisher.
Despite the graduation of last year’s frontrunner Samantha George, the team should be able to recover and appears in great shape.
With the addition of four true freshmen, team depth should only continue to expand.
With this year’s ACC championships held on its home course, WakeMed Soccer Park, the Pack will be eager to avenge last season’s narrow second-place finish to University of Virginia.
After a pleasantly surprising second place finish at last year ACC Championships, the men’s team is eager to continue stunning the collegiate cross country community.
Despite being ranked No. 27 in the latest preseason USTFCCCA Cross Country poll, the team looks to further climb the rankings.
The Pack returns a strong side featuring four scorers from last season’s 28th place NCAA Championship meet finish.
Despite the loss of graduate student Meron Simon, the team should improve.
Redshirt senior Sam Parsons will be a key leader. Last spring, Parsons qualified for the NCAA Track meet in the 10,000m. Parsons also consistently served as the Wolfpack’s frontrunner throughout the 2015 Cross Country campaign.
Expect the pair of redshirt juniors Sebastian Hanson and Bakri Abushouk to finish not far behind Parsons.
Despite missing much of the 2015 campaign due to illness, Hanson placed 16th overall at the ACC Championships and guided the men’s team to a runner-up result.
Meanwhile, Abushouk finished second on the team and 71st overall at last year’s NCAA Cross Country Championships.
With the addition of Ivy League transfers Aubrey Myjer and Elijah Moskowitz the team will receive some much-needed additional depth.
Myjer, a redshirt senior who graduated from Columbia University, placed third at last years Ivy League Championships, while Moskowitz consistently served as a top runner for Brown last season as a true freshman.
However, with the presence of reigning national champions Syracuse and other top-notch programs like the University of Virginia and the University of Louisville, the ACC remains a challenging conference.
Following Friday’s Adidas XC Challenge, both the men and women will complete a highly competitive schedule comprised of meets such as the Notre Dame Invitational and the Wisconsin Invitational. Should the Wolfpack qualify again, its season will culminate in November with the NCAA Regional and Championship meets.
