Pitt Cross Country Opens Season on Saturday at Duquesne Duals
9/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
2015 Cross Country Quick Facts
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh cross country team is set to open its 2015 campaign this Saturday with the Duquesne Duals which will take place at Schenley Park.
The women's 5K will get things started at 9 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at approximately 9:45 a.m. The men will have six of their 14 athletes in action this weekend, while 28 of the 40 women will be racing.
Running for the men include juniors Chris Pastore and Josh Trzeciak, sophomore Billy Caldewell, and freshmen Sebastian Curtin, Ethan Linderman and Matt McGoey. The women's team will get a good look at its young talent as 18 of the 28 runners are either freshmen or sophomores (11 freshmen, seven sophomores), and will also have four juniors and six seniors running.
Joining the Panthers and the host Dukes in the field this weekend is: Youngstown State, Temple, Robert Morris (women), Seton Hill, Point Park, Carnegie Mellon and St. Vincent (men).
2015 PREVIEW:
WOMEN:
Led by senior Hillary Boxheimer and sophomore Melanie Vlasic, the women's team looks to crack the top-10 of the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (Eight ACC teams made the field of 31 for the NCAA Championship race last season).
Vlasic could be one of the most improved runners in the league this year and is poised for a break-out sophomore campaign. As stated by assistant coach Adam Bray, she has a realistic shot to be an individual qualifier for the NCAA Championship race.
Boxheimer has been a steady force for the Panthers as she enters her senior season. She and Vlasic will lead a group of talented runners including Ellen Crook, Ariel Pastore-Sebring, Beth Shenck and many more.
MEN:
Senior Michael Runco headlines the group of 14 male runners. Runco was Pitt's second finisher at the ACC Championship meet last year and looks to pace the Panthers this season.
Also looking to be at the top of the pack includes junior Wes Roberts and Chris Montgomery, and sophomore Ryan Hughes.
The men hope to improve upon their 13th place finish at the ACC Championship Meet from last season and move into the top-10, which would position the Panthers as contenders in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
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