XC COUNTDOWN: #17 William and Mary Women
XC COUNTDOWN: #17 William and Mary Women
Head Coach:
Stephen Walsh (1st Year)
Last Year:
1st CAA
2nd Southeast Region
12th NCAA
Probable Top Five:
JR Emily Stites (9:24 3k; 15:43 5k; 32:41 10k; 26th NCAA XC '13)
FR Regan Rome (5:01 1600m; 9:37 3k; 2x Footlocker Finalist, 28th, 19th)
JR Meghan McGovern (9:26 3k; 16:24 5k; 113rd NCAA XC '13)
JR Carolyn Hennessey (16:32 5k; 35:18 10k; 141st NCAA XC '13)
SR Dylan Hassett (9:42 3k; 16:41 5k, 34:53; 167th NCAA XC '13)
Impact Freshman/Recruits:
Regan Rome - Dallas, PA (5:01 1600m; 9:37 3k; 2x Footlocker Finalist, 28th, 19th)
Lindsey Myers - Princeton, OH (5:11 1600m; 10:57 3200m)
Molly Briedenbaugh - Trinity Episcopal, VA (4:59 1600m; 10:44 3200m; 39th Footlocker Finals '13)
Analysis:
It appears as if Director of Track and Field Stephen Walsh will be assuming the coaching duties for the women of William and Mary. At least, at time of writing, no new head cross country coach had been announced. Former coach Jill Miller left for Wisconsin on July 15 and it remains to be seen who will fill her shoes.
Whether it ends up being Walsh or someone else, they are inheriting a nice group of talented ladies.
Emily Stites is very good as she proved last year with her 26th place finish, which given her follow up track times of 15:43 for 5k and 32:41 for 10k, looks more like a top 10 finish for Stites this year and she is only a junior.
Four of the returners bring NCAA Championship experience to the table. It means a lot to have been there and know what to expect. Juniors Meghan McGovern’s 16:24 and Carolyn Hennessey’s 16:32 5k's give Stites nice backup and lone senior Dylan Hassett ran 16:41 last year so she is a solid 4th for this team.
Talented freshman Regan Rome from Pennsylvania will need to be the fifth scorer and her high school credentials of 9:37 for 3k and a two time Foot Locker Finalist seem good enough to round out this team.
Not a lot of depth, but Stites is an excellent leader. The season really rests on her shoulders. A low stick like hers can raise a team very quickly. William and Mary lost a great senior in Elaina Balouris to graduation, and the B.A.A group coached by Terence Mahon, but Stites learned well from her and now it is her turn to lead the Tribe to Terre Haute.
#17 North Carolina Men
#18 Dartmouth Women