Spotlight on Sports: Women’s and men's cross-country preview

WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY PREVIEW

Last season: 4 of 13 at United East Conference Championship, 29 of 30 at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.

Coach: Tom Leeser, fourth season.

Top returnees: (last season’s 6K personal-best times) Junior Elaina Brady, of McConnellsburg (26:29); junior Natalie Greiner, of Mount Joy (30:51); junior Adelyn McDermott, of Williamsport (35:00); senior Isabella Telford of Greensburg (37:15).

Key losses: Lillian DePew, Karleigh Hunter, Isabella Kerlin, Kayleigh Miller.

Top newcomers: Junior Alexis Durn, of Spring Mills; freshman Ellie Miller, of Hughesville; freshman Gwynn Johnson of Staunton, Virginia.

Outlook: “Elaina (a UE first-teamer) is our top returning female. Our hope is that she will continue to improve and place well at the UE Championships again this fall. We lost some quality runners due to graduation and due to demanding class schedules. We are adding some new faces who have solid high school experience. If they can contribute, our women should have a positive season,” Leeser said.

Inside the UE: St. Mary’s (Md.) College is the four-time defending champion and is favored to repeat, according to a preseason poll (Penn College was picked fourth). Fourteen teams are competing, with Penn State Brandywine hosting the championship Nov. 1. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship will be held Nov. 15 and hosted by Dickinson College at Big Spring High School in Newville.

UPCOMING MEETS
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Dutchmen Invitational at Lebanon Valley College, 10:15 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 12 – UE Fall Preview at Penn State Brandywine, 4:30 p.m.
 

MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY PREVIEW

Last season: 1 of 11 at United East Conference Championship, 22 of 29 at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.

Coach: Tom Leeser, fourth season, two-time UE Coach of the Year.

Top returnees: (last season’s 8K personal-best times) Senior Mitchell Campbell, of Riegelsville (26:43); junior Chase Ebeling, of Bellefonte (28:25); sophomore Ethan Knapp, of Franklin (28:25); junior Holden Furey, of Williamsport (28:41); junior Jacob Parker, of Weatherly (28:56); senior Aaron Guerrisky, of South Williamsport (29:33); sophomore Owen Troop, of Lancaster (34:32); sophomore Matthew Wheeland, of Spring Mills (32:33).

Key losses: Alec Rees, Matt Woolcock, Noah Bowers.

Top newcomers: Sophomore Ben Causak, of Lebanon; freshman Olivier Galicki, of Dingsmans Ferry; freshman Ben Heym, of West Chester; sophomore Nathan Love, of Williamsport, Maryland; freshman JJ Pencil, of Bedford; sophomore Jackson Small, of Linglestown.

Outlook: Losses of last year’s UE first-teamers Rees and Woolcock, and third-teamer Bowers will be felt, but the squad returns first-teamers in Campbell and Knapp, all-conference second-team members Guerrisky, Furey and Ebeling, and a third-teamer in Parker, making for a solid nucleus.

“The 2023 and 2024 men’s teams have raised the expectations for our program. We have benefitted from having quality runners, strong work ethics and good leadership. It will be important for several individuals, either returners or newcomers, to step up and into the holes left by some key losses. We will strive for improvement over the course of the season, with the ultimate goals being another conference title and a strong regional finish,” Leeser said.

Inside the UE: Penn College is the two-time defending champion and is the co-favorite to win along with St. Mary’s (Md.) College, according to a preseason poll. Thirteen teams are competing, with Penn State Brandywine hosting the championship on Nov. 1. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship is set for Nov. 15 and hosted by Dickinson College at Big Spring High School in Newville.

UPCOMING MEETS
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Dutchmen Invitational at Lebanon Valley College, 11 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 12 – UE Fall Preview at Penn State Brandywine, 4:30 p.m.

For additional information about Wildcat Athletics, visit pctwildcats.com.
For more about the United East Conference, visit gounitedeast.com.