2012 WVU Cross Country Guide by Joe Swan

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Table of Contents & Credits In the Spotlight A Championship Program All-Americans Big 12 Conference Athletic Training Strength and Conditioning Mountaineers In The Community Student-Athlete Services Campus Life Mountaineer Excellence

@WVUSportsBuzz

WVUsports.com

WVUCrossCountry

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach Sean Cleary One-on-One with Coach Cleary Support Staff

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Rosters Stephanie Aldea Sarah-Anne Brault Kaitlyn Gillespie Aubrey Moskal Hallie Portner Rachel Buser/Jordan Hamric Chelsea Jarvis/Sarah Martinelli Lydia Martinelli/Allison Pettit Savanna Plombon/Sarah McCauley Letitia Propst/Alyssa Scherich Sydney Scott/Paige Szabat Kelly Williams/Megan Yuan

Credits: The 2012 West Virginia University cross country guide has been published by the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Managing Editor: Joe Swan Editor: Tim Goodenow Author: Abby Norman, Daniel Whitehead Page Layout & Cover Design: BlaineTurner Advertising, Inc., Tim Goodenow Photographers: All-Pro Photography by Dale Sparks, Bill Barrett, Bob Beverly, John Bright, Tad Davis, M.G. Ellis, Pete Emerson, Dan Friend, Jeff Geissler, Tim Goodenow, David Green, Mike Hardy, Julia Lucas, Dan Nagy, Brian Persinger, Steven M. Prunty, Chuck Scheer, Steve Smith, Martin Valent, WVU Athletic Archives, WVU Photographic Services, Alison Toffle, David Zicherman.

COACHING STAFF

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

2012 SEASON

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS Use your smartphone or mobile device reader, scan the QR Code and it will re-direct you to the cross country homepage.

2012 SEASON

2011 SEASON

RECORD BOOK

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44 46 48 49 50 52 53 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Contributors: Lisa Ammons, Grant Dovey, Michael Fragale, Mickey Glowackey, Katie Kane, Brian Kuppelweiser, Cheryl Maust, Shannon McNamara, Bryan Messerly, Mike Montoro, Amy Prunty, John Riedesel. ÂŠ 2012 West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics The indicia depicted are registered trademarks of West Virginia University. West Virginia University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

2011 SEASON

RECORD BOOK

57 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSTIY

2012 CROSS COUNTRY

Season Preview 2011 Schedule Season Review Results Meet-by-Meet Honors All-Americans

President Dr. James P. Clements Director of Athletics Oliver Luck Athletics Senior Staff WVU Head Coaches Athletic Facilities Media Information WVU Sports Communications

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Choosing to become a Mountaineer student-athlete is special. Without a professional sports team in the state, folks across the state and throughout the region love West Virginia University athletics. Mountaineers have the unique opportunity to represent themselves, their teammates and their university to news media, alumni, friends, family and the general public. Your interaction with these groups is also part of your educational process.

Sports

Inside today

If you take advantage of these opportunities, it can have a positive effect, not only on your career as a student-athlete at West Virginia, but also on your life after you have donned the Old Gold and Blue.

College football

Florida’s Tim Tebow could play in Oct. 10 game, against LSU.

Page 5-B SPORTS DESK ■

(304) 291-9431

No change in Big East hoops tourney format IF THE WEST

In the works College football

Coverage of the WVUColorado game, at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Rodgers waits fo

JUSTIN JACKSON

Speedy TB yearns to make plays

Friday R

TUESDAY, SEPT.

r his chance 29, 2009 THE DOMINION POST

is quicker, “He’s one of those more explosive guys who wants to make like [over] 10 to plays and get on 15 yards. But if the field, and he’s always been that you were to say way,” Beatty said. The coach has nothing the length of the but comfield, I’d be will- pliments for Rodgers and his noseing to bet that to-the-grindstone work ethic. “Mark is one of Mark could those guys who BY STEFANIE LOH maybe beat comes to work every day,” Beatty The Dominion Post said. “I have no him.” problem putting Pop quiz: Which Rodgers ran Mark out there. As a matter BIG EAST NOTEBO of what I thought of fact, OK little tailbacks would WVU’s speedy track in high he needs to play a little last year.” running backs more. The WVU team “It’s just hard to school and once that started BY STEFANIE LOH coach Chris Beatget reps when the 2003 season clocked 10.5s in you have Noel back 1-4 ended up winThe Dominion Post ty put money on the 100M at the ning its next seven California Invita- needs to play more there. But he games to finin the 100m run? tional Finals. He’s and he deserves WVU head coach ish the year 8-5. also raced Uni- to play more.” versity of California Noel Devine? art has said it before,Bill StewFast forward to running back On his part, Rodgers he’s been the present and dark horse Nope. saying it for the is patientHeisman candi- ly awaiting a past year and day, and Stewart might be time when he’ll be on to It’s not Jock date Jahvid Best. able now he’ll say it something when he says his to carve his Sanders either. own niche in the team Best won in 10.3s, matured in Boulder. again. “The coaches always offense. WVU is 10Devine and faster than Rodgers’ just a hair tell me to Last year’s 3 since their defeat to the Buffs 10.6s. be ready. I just stay Sanders may be It explains why wound up on the 17-14 overtime last season, and the team Beatty hails sideline and keep the Mountaineers’ Rodgers Mark hopes my legs warm as a natural north-sou defeat to Col- to take that record to 11-3 leading rusher runner when it Rodgers th when I go out there,” Rodgers with raw potential. orado in Boul- faces Colorado at home said. “It’s not like I am and on Thursleading just sitting there Rodgers has both der was the day night. talent and abil- on the sideline. receiver, respec- ity, and They certainly tively, so far this he’s shown it in night WVU don’t want a “I think I’m doing season. es as WVU’s kickoff brief flashpretty good. I came of age as repeat performance of But if Beatty were return man want to take one last to the house, but kick returner and a betting man, this season. The 5-foot-8, a football team. disappointing overtime year’s Bill backup tailback California 175-pound it will come whenever loss. Mark Rodgers would In fact, watching it comes.” “It was like native is averaging Stewart clips of that In the meantime get 26.6 , Rodgers has “You look at 100M his vote. yards per return for WVU, in 2003 after the game still puts Stewart in a foul and has become a special teams might be the fastest speed, he also made himself [22-20] Miami temper. useful taking He’s on the Mountain staple. loss we were 1-4, room,” Beatty said. guy in our down opposing ball “I watched that eers’ kickI knew that day thing at 7:30 carriers on the off, kick return, “I mean, Noel we were a football this morning with kickoff team. punt and punt team coming the offensive together,” Stewart SEE RODGERS, said. “That’s

Game 4

Colorado at WVU 7:30 p.m. Thursday TV: ESPN Channel 35 RADIO: WAJR 1440 AM NEWSPAPER: The Dominion Post

WVU came of age in ’08 loss to Buffs

VIRGINIA men’s basketball team indeed finishes among the top four in the Big East this upcoming season, the Mountaineers are going to have a long wait to play its first tournament game. conference “We’re keeping the same bracket as before,” Big East Associate Commissi oner John Paquette said Monday. What that means taineers finish with is if the Mounference’s top four one of the conrecords this season, they will have to wait until the third day of the five-day tournament to play their first game. The tournament is scheduled March 9-13, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Big East, after much support from the conferenc e’s coaches, adopted the 16-team format this past season and the 12-team format rid itself of in bottom four schools which the nated from tournamewere elimi5-B nt SEE WVU, 5-B The coaches wanted play. teams to be represent all the ed, as well as giving all the conference schools the chance to experience what it was like to play in MSG. It sounded like a good idea, until we actually got to the 2009 tournament. Louisville, Pitt, Connecticut and Villanova were seeds for the 2009 the top four tournament, and as such, were given the first BY TODD MURRAY two days off as a reward. The Dominion Post It turned out to be ome things in Ahna ter for the top teams. a near disasLewis’s life never Third-seeded Connectic seem to ut lost change. in six overtimes to Syracuse, She shared a room which may have been a loss for older sister, Amanda, with her the Huskies, but in the famithat game was a ly’s Morgantown huge win for the home Big East as a ago when she launched 10 years whole. her running career with WVU ROUNDUP No. 4 Villanova the needed a lastginia Flyers, a youth West Virsecond shot from track club Dwayne founded Submitted to The by WVU cross Anderson to beat Dominion Post Marquette and country/track coach the Mountaineers WVU men’s soccer Sean Cleary. upset secondforward Abel And 10 years later? seeded Pitt, 74-60. “Shadow” Sebele has been named Well, Lewis still Big East rookie In theory, the two-day shares a of the week, conroom with her sister. bye sounds OK, because ference officials of the rest ues to run for Cleary, She continfactor. In reality, said Monday. coaches would the stakes are much too, only rather have their higher: guys play to Sebele, of BulLewis runs for keep them sharp. Cleary’s Mounawayo, Zimbabwe In this confertaineers. , ence, waiting for recorded his first the The sophomore round to play your quarterfinal wants to collegiate goal — first secure a spot on a means you’ll probably game also the game-win ner ber team that tries seven-mem— against a top 25-rankedopen up to bring against then-No. home WVU’s first-ever team. “That was one of cross 3/5-ranked USF, our keys, be country national on here on Friday championship night with the Abel “Shadow” Sept. 25. After trophy, in Novembe new format, only r. receiving a pass playing one Sebele Lewis ran on that game,” UConn coach Jim Calfrom sophomo redshirt freshman team as a re houn said after a Alex Silva in the the placing 163rd (21:42) year ago, 18-yard box, Sebele cuse. “I don’t like loss to Syraas the tapped the ball it. I’ve said it all Mountaineers finished around goalkeeper along. Open up a proJeff Attinella at the against the top gram-best fourth 20 91:12 mark for the teams, not exactly at the NCAA 1-0 overtime victory. the way you finals, in Terre want to get into Two days later, Haute, Ind. a tournament.” he earned two “I remember in points against The talk of change middle school DePaul, wasn’t to when I’d be training both of WVU’s scores setting up bring back the I’d see the 12-team format. in a 2-1 overWVU girls and time victory. His Instead there was think, ‘Wow, first assist came in talk of changthat’s so cool. I the 83rd minute, ing the days when wish I could be when he served the top teams one of them sometime a corner kick into would play. in my life,’ the six-yard box ” said Lewis, who that was headed in by The thought was was homefreshman Travis to bracket the schooled until her Pittman. Big East tourname freshman year nt like an in high school, His second assist NCAA tourname when set up the gament and have the enrolled at Morganto she winning goal in top four seeds play wn High. overtime. Sebele the bottom four “I actually got to finished the match seeds on the first be one and with three shots day and then run on the team and played all 94 have Wednesda and minutes. y off before playfourth-place finish. get that Sebele ing in Thursday is tied for the team It was like a ’s quarterfinals. dream come true. lead with five points In the end, there It was really and leads all Mounjust wasn’t awesome.” taineers in shots enough of a go from (17) and shots onLewis’s success goal (5). ple in the conferenc enough peowas just as e to make a satisfying to Cleary, The Mountain change. eers (4-2-2, 3-1-0 nized her potential who recogBig East) return “We talked in May a to action Saturand often believed decade ago at our conday, at Marquette ference meetings in her more (2-4-2, 1-1-2). Kickand than she believed off at Valley Fields input from everyone, we asked for in herself. is 8:05 p.m. “Ahna passed every said. “We felt there ” Pauquette single just wasn’t test last year with enough sentiment flying colors,” Women’s basketba in changing the Cleary said. “She ll format after just led season tickets one year.” through many meets, our team on sale There is always was conSeason tickets hope, though. sistent and ran for the 2009-’10 phenomenally. “That’s not to say WVU women’s basketball Her one hurdle be a change in the there won’t now campaign went on sale Monday. future,” Paquethe NCAA championis going into tte said. “I think WVU’s Ahna Lewis Season tickets this will be mastering the race. ships and for the 16-game something that “passed every single home schedule, will continue to 250 of the best youngThere are test last year with WVU file photo which includes be discussed.” runners in flying colors,” coach the potential of more the world in the Lewis concedes Sean Cleary said. games in the Prerace. Her trainshe was There is still a TV season WNIT, cost awestruck at nationals ing will go well, the greatest distance issue with the $90 each for lower first day of the tourname and runner in level reserved seating up with Texas Tech’s , lining tough-minded kid she’s a NCAA history. were and what nt. This past season, the D-I nationals is who belongs first Kipyego, a three-tim Sally seum. WVU faculty in the Colithere at the highest about,” Lewis said. “I kind of got a (Seeds No. 9 through round games little overe national level.” and staff can “This year, I champion whom whelmed in the purchase up to have more of a competitiveness Cleary hails as six tickets at a not on TV and could No. 16) were veteran’s edge. disof it and how many only be seen counted rate of $72. on the Internet with people there ESPN360. Info: 1-800-WVU SEE LEWIS, 3-B “We don’t have -GAME or online an answer to at WVUGAM that, yet,” Pauquette E.com. right now, it’s more said. “As of for you to say that what we can say.” Associated Press ESPN holds the rights for the suddenly stops tournament. PITTSBURGH — after a Super Bowl The Steelers said. Steelers are beginning Pittsburgh victory and a new “I think we’re going This team is too season arrives to be OK,” to hear the very Pauquette said. focused, too discipline More worrisom three words they quickly. That season, e to them is the d and deter- way were certain numer- mined and beat them in ous distractions wouldn’t be associated they’re losing, with to let it happen JUSTIN JACKSON the closing seconds. and their quartheir No. 1is Those were the said. Yet the Steelers again, they ranked defense from Super Bowl hangover with them: terback’s health The Dominion Post a sports reporter for kind of comeproblems led to the . Write are 1-2, with . a half as many jjackson@dominionpost. to him at sons unable to create last two sea- backs the Steelers pulled 2-6 start and they The Steelers experienc losses as com. wound up missing off themturnovers or selves last ed in 2006 the season, when they 19 games last season, they had in get off the field at what can happen playoffs. critical points in to win when the partying and they’re games. late in a game six rallied already facing a Wouldn’t happen For the second time times — two-game deficit this time, these in eight including the Super in days on Sunday, the AFC North. Bowl. Now, they let a team they’ve lost 23-20 to the Bengals in drive nearly the length of the field

Lewis seeks NCA

On WVU’s cross country squad

A spot

Talk of a hangov

Big East honors Sebele

As rookie of week

er haunting Steele

rs after 1-2 start SEE STEELERS,

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3-B

1-B

A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM In six seasons as the women’s cross country head coach, Sean Cleary has led WVU to unprecedented national success and has been named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year three times. In Cleary’s first season in 2007, the Mountaineers became the fourth program in school history to capture a Big East Championship title, with Marie-Louise Asselin taking second overall. WVU would go on to finish ninth at the NCAA Championships- the first top-10 finish in program history. The 2008 season saw WVU place a school-best fourth place at the NCAA Championships and first at the MidAtlantic Regional. Also, Asselin became the first runner to earn the individual title at the Big East Championships. Asselin and Keri Bland became the first three-time AllAmericans in cross country in 2009 after leading the team to a sixth-place finish and finishing the race in 31st and 34th place, respectively. Kate Harrison crossed the line at the 2011 NCAA Championships in an all-time program best eighth place and helped lead the team to a eighth-place finish as well.

IN ALL, WVU HAS PLACED IN THE TOP 10 AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS THE LAST FOUR OUT OF FIVE YEARS AND HAD 12 ALL-AMERICANS SELECTED FROM THE PROGRAM. 2012 CROSS COUNTRY

ALL-AMERICANS West Virginia has produced 13 All-America selections from seven individuals, including at least one All-American performer in each of the past five seasons. Each year Sean Clearyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roster is filled with talent, looking for the next All-American for WVU.

Charity Wachera

Megan Metcalfe

1998

2002, 2004

Clara Grandt 2009

Marie-Louise Asselin

Keri Bland

2007, 2008, 2009

Kaitlyn Gillespie 2010, 2011

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2007, 2008, 2009

Kate Harrison 2011

COACH SEAN CLEARY HAS PRODUCED AN ALL-AMERICAN EACH YEAR SINCE 2007. 2012 CROSS COUNTRY

BIG 12 CONFERENCE The new Big 12 Conference ushers in its 17th year by welcoming a new commissioner and two new members as it continues to promote the stability, strength and success of one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences. Bob Bowlsby was named the Conference’s fourth commissioner on May 4, 2012, after spending the previous six years as director of athletics at Stanford University. TCU and West Virginia became the Big 12’s first additions since inception, joining Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. Big 12 institutions create a league that encompasses five states and nearly 37 million people. More than 4,200 studentathletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually in the sports sponsored by the Conference. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or within the community, the student-athletes, administrators, coaches and game officials of the Big 12 support the highest ideals in sportsmanship. The Big 12 conducts postseason championships for 20 of its 23 sports, including cross country. The 2012 Big 12 Cross Country Championships will be held at Jimmy Clay Golf Course on Oct. 27 in Austin, Texas. In its first 16 years, the Conference has distributed more than $1.6 billion to its member institutions. The conference office is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

THE BIG 12 IS A STRONG CONFERENCE THAT, LIKE WVU, VALUES QUALITY ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, AND HAS A GREAT TRADITION OF SUCCESS. 6

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ATHLETIC TRAINING The West Virginia athletic training program looks to get its student-athletes back on the field in a timely manner while providing quality health care for its student-athletes and coaches. The scope of the athletic training services encompass various domains including injury recognition, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, education, and counseling that will enable the athlete to maintain an optimal quality of life beyond the span of athletic competition. Multiple athletic training rooms are available for student-athletes furnished with the latest in technology and equipment. The athletic training staff will work in conjunction with the team physicians and athletic administration to assure the student-athletes receive quality care throughout their careers at WVU.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING WVUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength and conditioning staff ensures all student athletes are on year-long programs designed to continue improving the fitness capabilities needed in their sports To keep athletes in peak physical condition, West Virginia offers a variety of training areas and an array of strength programs designed to increase performance. Equipped with excellent amenities and staffed by some of the finest strength coaches in the nation, athletes who come to West Virginia know that they are in good hands when it comes to their athletic capacity. Each athlete is educated on correct dietary habits and essential vitamins and minerals necessary to be an elite athlete. The athletes have the opportunity to meet with nutritionists, go on guided grocery store tours and receive diets designed specifically for them.

ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES WILL ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN PROGRAM INDIVIDUALLY CALCULATED AND UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE Winning and working hard are important to the West Virginia University cross country team. But becoming successful and positive role models on and off the course is just as significant. Each year, the Mountaineers work to give back to Morgantown and surrounding communities. The WVU cross country team has donated its time to helping the Jerry Lewis Telethon that is aimed toward helping kids with muscular dystrophy and related diseases. The Mountaineers do their part to help the cause by answering telephones, which are constantly ringing with donors. The team also regularly donates its time and knowledge by hosting and teaching local youth track clubs the fundamentals of the sport. Along with strengthening the youngsters’ skills, they also teach the participants the importance of good sportsmanship, courage, determination and hard work. Coach Cleary’s student-athletes can also be found reading to children at local elementary schools in the “Read Aloud” program. During their visits, the studentathletes read to students in several classrooms and encourage them to apply themselves to their studies. Mountaineer coaches and players also take part in Relay for Life of Monongalia County, the American Cancer Society’s signature activity, which offers everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.

THE MOUNTAINEERS ARE FREQUENT VISITORS TO THE WVU CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND HELP SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. 2012 CROSS COUNTRY

STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICES West Virginia University offers a variety of services and programs to help student-athletes maximize their academic potential. Department staff members work with coaches, on campus student service providers and faculty to help student-athletes meet the unique demands of the classroom, the sporting arena and the personal-social challenges they face as developing adults. While many of the headlines center on the Mountaineers’ accomplishments on the playing field, West Virginia athletes have also made some noteworthy strides in the classroom. Some of those strides include a string of nine consecutive years where the department has had at least one first team Academic All-American. To help its student-athletes achieve academic success, one of the nation’s finest facilities resides in the WVU Coliseum – The Athletic Academic Performance Center. The 8,000-square foot facility provides individual and group study areas, a plethora of computer stations and the latest in fingerprint technology used when signing in.

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STUDENT-ATHLETE SERVICES

West Virginia University’s graduation rate for student-athletes has been impressive, to say the least, over the past eight years. The ratio of student-athletes graduating to the general student body has increased almost every year. WVU’s combined varsity athletic teams have an Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 975 according to data released today by the NCAA. The APR is based upon eligibility and retention of student-athletes over a four-year period, used as an assessment of real-time academic success. WVU’s average APR score of 975 is up one point from last year’s average is higher than the NCAA’s overall four-year APR average score of 973. For the 2010-11 academic year, West Virginia had three teams with perfect 1,000 scores: gymnastics, rowing and men’s soccer. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) provides a forum for the “voice of the student-athlete” on WVU’s campus. SAAC membership provides feedback to administration about how to better WVU athletic programs. They offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

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Character: Public, land-grant institution, founded in 1867.

CAMPUS LIFE

Research Classification: Research University (High Research Activity) as classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Research Funding: Faculty conduct $174 million annually in sponsored contracts and research grants. Combined WVU Expense Budget: Approximately $955 million. Accreditations: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and dozens of specialized academic accrediting agencies. Governance: WVU is governed by the WVU Board of Governors and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Location: Morgantown, W.Va., population 28,654, rated “No. 1 Small City in America” by BizJournals.com for its exceptional quality of life. Within easy traveling distance of Washington, D.C., to the east, Pittsburgh, Pa., to the north, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, to the northwest. Other recent rankings: One of “Best Sports Cities” by Sporting News; 5th “Best Small Metro” by Forbes; 12th overall “Hottest Small City by Inc.; one of “50 Smartest Places to Live” by Kiplinger’s; one of the “Best Cities for Jobs” by MSN Careers; one of the 50 best places to launch a small business by CNNMoney. com; and the second-ranking “Best College Town for Jobs” by Forbes. Student Profile: Fall 2011 enrollment was 29,617 (15,294 West Virginia residents, 14,323 nonresidents). Academic Excellence: WVU ranks nationally for prestigious scholarships – 25 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 35 Goldwater Scholars, two British Marshall Scholars, two Morris K. Udall Scholars, five USA Today All-USA College Academic First Team Members (and 11 academic team honorees), nine Boren Scholars, five Gilman Scholars, 30 Fulbright Scholars and one Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholar. Degrees Granted: In 2010-11, WVU awarded 6,289 degrees, over 35% of which were graduate or professional level. Faculty & Staff Profile: Excellent faculty—18 of whom have been named Carnegie Foundation Professors of the Year—guide and mentor students. Academics: 13 colleges and schools offering 191 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs in agriculture, natural resources and design; arts and sciences; business and economics; creative arts; dentistry; engineering and mineral resources; human resources and education; journalism; law; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; physical activity and sport sciences.

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CAMPUS LIFE

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Student Living Experience: The First-Year Experience—unique among state universities—helps students navigate their first year at WVU. A sampling of services: Lincoln Hall, a residential college; Resident Faculty Leaders, faculty couples who live in the halls to mentor and guide students; and Adventure West Virginia, an outdoor freshman orientation program. All WVU students benefit from a vibrant array of student life programs, including a Festival of Ideas lecture series, bringing the world’s top minds to campus to share their experiences and knowledge; WVUp All Night, a weekend package of safe, fun, and healthy activities; an award-winning Student Recreation Center. Transportation: University buses operate free on a year-round basis as does the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system—a computer-directed system that glides along 8.7 miles of guideway between Downtown, Evansdale, and Health Sciences Center campuses. In addition, Morgantown’s expanded MountainLine bus service offers free rides to students and employees. WVU ID required for all services. Safety: WVU has one of the safest college campuses in America, with 24-hour police protection and 37 outdoor emergency phones. Student Organizations: Choose from over 300 student organizations, or participate in an active intramural program and a variety of club sports. Study Abroad: More than 900 students participate in University-led study abroad programs and international exchanges. Civic Engagement: The Center for Civic Engagement develops and organizes service learning and volunteer opportunities for students and faculty and consults with academic units on incorporating civic engagement into the curriculum. Last year, about 15,726 WVU students contributed 204,000 hours of service to the community. Scholarships & Aid: Approximately $10 million a year is awarded by the WVU Scholars Program; more than 5,000 students benefit from this program annually. In addition, there are many different types of scholarships available based on academic record, financial need, group affiliation, or some combination of these factors. Parents Club: The Mountaineer Parents Club, with more than 20,000 members in clubs across the state and nation, fosters success by connecting parents and family members with the student experience. The organization sponsors events on and off-campus, has a newsletter, a toll-free helpline (1-800-WVU-0096), parent electronic news, and a “Parent Perk” program. Membership is free.

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MOUNTAINEER EXCELLENCE

Team Record Baseball: 23-32, 9-18 Big East Cross Country: 8th place at the NCAA Championships Men’s Basketball: 19-14, 9-9 Big East; NCAA Second Round Women’s Basketball: 24-10, 11-5 Big East; NCAA Second Round Football: 10-3, 5-2 Big East; Big East Champions; 2012 Discover Orange Bowl Champions Gymnastics: 21-5, 12-1 EAGL; EAGL Champions; NCAA Regionals Rifle: 12-2, 5-1 GARC; GARC Champions; 6th place at NCAA Championships Rowing: 7th Big East Men’s Soccer: 11-8-1, 6-3 Big East, NCAA Second Round

Women’s Soccer: 17-5-0, 10-1-0 Big East; Big East Division Champions, Big East Tournament Champions, NCAA First Round Men’s Swimming and Diving: 4th Big East (1 NCAA Qualifier) Women’s Swimming and Diving: 3rd Big East; 5 NCAA Qualifiers – 26th at NCAA Championships Women’s Tennis: 4-16, 1-6 Big East Women’s Track: Indoor: 11th Big East; Outdoor: 5th Big East (10 NCAA Regional Qualifiers, 2 NCAA National Qualifiers –34th at NCAA Outdoor Championships) Volleyball: 7-19, 5-9 Big East Wrestling: 9-4, 4-2 EWL (6 NCAA Qualifiers) Team Conference Champions Football, Big East Regular-Season Champions Gymnastics, EAGL Champions Women’s Soccer, Big East regular season and Tournament Champions Rifle, GARC Champions Individual Conference Champions Rachael Burnett, women’s swimming: 500 free, 200 free, 800 free relay, 1,650 free Big East Champion Chelsea Carrier-Eades women’s track: 100-meter hurdles

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Beth Deal, gymnastics: EAGL Champion balance beam Kata Fodor, women’s swimming: 800 free relay Mike Morales, wrestling: EWL 141 Mandie Nugent, women’s swimming: 100 fly, 200 fly, 800 free relay Big East Champion Matt Ryan, wrestling: EWL 184 Hope Sloanhoffer, gymnastics: EAGL Champion - all-around, vault, uneven bars Danielle Smith, women’s swimming: 800 free relay Brandon Williamson, wrestling: EWL 285 Petra Zublasing, rifle: GARC air rifle, smallbore, combined score champion NCAA Champions Petra Zublasing, rifle: air rifle First Team All-Americans Tavon Austin, football: Associated Press, CBSSports.com College Football, Phil Steele’s Chelsea Carrier-Eades, women’s track: 100-meter hurdles and heptathlon Kaitlyn Gillespie, women’s cross country Kate Harrison, women’s cross country Erica Henderson, women’s soccer: NSCA Kevin Jones, men’s basketball: John R. Wooden Petra Zublasing, rifle: NRA smallbore and air rifle

Academic All-Americans Kaylyn Christopher(track/cross country), third team Kaitlyn Gillespie (track/cross country), first team Kate Harrison (track/cross country), first team Ahna Lewis, (track/cross country), third team Petra Zublasing, rifle, second team Conference Major Awards Tavon Austin, football: Big East Special Teams Player of the Year Rachael Burnett, women’s swimming: Big East Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer Andy Bevin, men’s soccer: Big East Rookie of the Year Thomas Kyanko: GARC Rookie of the Year, GARC Scholar Athlete Tina Maloney, gymnastics: EAGL MVP Bry McCarthy, women’s soccer: Big East Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player Blake Miller, women’s soccer: Big East Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player Kate Schwindel, women’s soccer: Big East Rookie of the Year Hope Sloanhoffer, gymnastics: EAGL Gymnast of the Year

2012 CROSS COUNTRY

MOUNTAINEER EXCELLENCE Petra Zublasing: GARC Shooter of the Year Coaching Awards Jon Hammond, rifle: NRA Distinguished College Coach Dana Holgorsen, football: FWAA First Year Coach of the Year Nikki Izzo-Brown, women’s soccer: 2011 Frontier Field Walk of Fame inductee Vic Riggs, women’s swimming: Big East Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

24-25............................Head Coach Sean Cleary 26-27...................One-on-One with Coach Cleary 28.....................................................Support Staff

2012 Cross Country

Sean Cleary Cross Country Coach Sixth Season/21st with program

Sean Cleary, one of the sport’s most talented coaches, is in his sixth season at the helm of the West Virginia University cross country and track and field teams after being associated with the program for more than 20 years. With his expertise in mentoring, training, conditioning and recruiting distance runners, the Georgetown, Ontario, native has quickly built West Virginia’s cross country program into a national powerhouse with seven All-Americans and numerous all-conference runners. Last season, the Mountaineers finished No. 8 in the country at the NCAA Championship, its fourth top-10 national finish in five years. His team finished in fourth place at the Big East Championship, the most difficult cross country league in the nation, and followed it with a thirdplace mark at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. He then led his team to its eighth-place finish at nationals where Kate Harrison and Kaitlyn Gillespie became All-Americans, with Harrison finishing in eighth place, an all-time WVU best individual finish for the event. In 2010, Cleary sent sophomores Kaitlyn Gillespie and Sarah-Anne Brault to the NCAA Championships, where Gillespie became Cleary’s sixth All-American with a 34th-place finish in 20:46 and Brault arrived in 71st place

overall. In indoor track, three athletes were named All-Americans and all seven athletes who qualified for the outdoor NCAA Championships achieved All-America status. For the achievements, Cleary was named the NCAA’s Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year for track and field. The 2009-10 season was equally successful, as the team achieved sixth place at the NCAA Championships, its third straight top-10 finish, and Clara Grandt, Keri Bland and MarieLouise Asselin received All-America status. Asselin and Bland achieved the honor for the third time in their WVU careers, while Grandt earned her first. Ranked in the top 10 all year, the team received its highest-ever ranking as a program at No. 3 midway through the season. Between indoor and outdoor track that year, 11 All-America honors were distributed ,and Bland, Grandt and Asselin became the first Mountaineers to achieve the status in three sports in the same year. Overall, 17 All-American nominations were given to WVU athletes between cross country, indoor and outdoor track during the year. At the completion of the 2009-10 cross country and track seasons, WVU was recognized as the fifth-best team on the Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award list announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross County Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The award is given annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division I women’s cross country and

24 | West Virginia University

track and field programs and honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Division I Championships over three seasons. In 2008, the team had its best-ever finish at the NCAA Championships, arriving in fourth after being ranked No. 5 most of the year. WVU won its second-ever NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region championship and Cleary was named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year. Asselin became the first in school history to win an individual Big East title and the team finished in second. In Cleary’s first season as head coach in 2007, the team became Big East champions for the first time in school history and a then-school record three runners were named All-Big East as the team entered the top 25 for the first time in three years. For the fourth year in a row, the Mountaineers were named an All-Academic Team by the USTFCCCA. The group was ranked 17th in the nation in terms of overall grade point average (GPA) and had the second-highest GPA in the Big East Conference with a 3.61 average. Cleary previously had been the distance coach in 2005 and 2006 and was a full-time assistant from 2001-04, serving as the primary coach and trainer for the cross country team during that span. Prior to the 2001 season, Cleary served as a graduate assistant coach for eight seasons at WVU.

From 1998 to 2004, WVU’s distance medley relay team qualified for nationals seven consecutive years, the second-longest streak in the nation, under Cleary’s watch. Cleary has coached 17 athletes who have competed at the World Track and Field, World Cross Country, World University Games and Pan American Championships. Cleary worked closely with former head coach Martin Pushkin in building the women’s cross country team into a national contender. Cleary was responsible for the recruitment and mentoring of NCAA mile champion Kate Vermeulen as well as All-Americans Rebecca Stallwood, Merissa Sexsmith and Megan Metcalfe. Under his guidance, Cleary’s coaching has produced several All-America runners, including four-time All-American Bob Donker, NCAA cross country All-Americans Wynston Alberts, Mike Dudley and Steve Bohan, two-time NCAA qualifiers Jeff Metcaff and Bohan, NCAA qualifier Ian Collings and 5,000-meter All-American Mark Vilardo. Cleary, who holds a USATF Level I Certification, is the primary recruiter for the cross country squad, attracting the best in-state, outof-state and international athletes. He also is responsible for scheduling all meets and serves as the director for home meets. He was a member of the Mountaineer team in 1991 and 1992, helping the 1991 squad capture the Atlantic 10 cross country title and earning all-conference honors his last season. Cleary attended Central Oregon Community College, where he helped lead the team to the National Junior College Athletic Association title. He received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from WVU in 1992. He resides in Morgantown with his wife, Heather.

Recent Major Accomplishments Under Cleary Cross Country - Top-10 finish four of last five seasons - 2011 NCAA Championship eighth-place finish - Two All-Americans in 2011 (Kate Harrison, Kaitlyn Gillespie) - Five all-region and three all-conference runners in 2011 - 2011 Elite 89 Award winner Ahna Lewis - 2010 Kaitlyn Gillespie named All-American - 2009 NCAA Championship sixth-place finish - 2007-09 Three straight Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships - 2009 Highest weekly national ranking – No. 3 on Oct. 6, 2009 - 2009 Three All-Americans – Asselin, Bland, Grandt - 2009 Two Academic All-Americans – Asselin, Christopher - 2009 Five all-Mid-Atlantic Region runners - 2009 Three all-Big East runners – Asselin, Bland, Grandt - 2008 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion - 2008 Big East Championship runner-up - 2009 1,000 NCAA APR Score - 2007 Big East Champions - 2007, 2008 Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year - 2007 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year Kate Harrison - 2011 All-American - 8th place at 2011 NCAA Championship, best individual finish at nationals in school history, beating Megan Metcalfe’s 2002 record of ninth - Four-time NCAA Championship participant - 2011 All-Big East - Three-time All-Mid-Atlantic Region (2008, 09, 11) - Named to 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic team Kaitlyn Gillespie - Two-time All-American (201011) - 27th place at 2011 NCAA Championship - 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic team - 34th place at 2010 NCAA Championship - Two-time All-Big East (2010-11) - Two-time All-Mid-Atlantic Region (2010-11) Marie-Louise Asselin - 2007-10 All-American in three sports (Cross County, Indoor and Outdoor Track) - 2009 Cross Country AllAmerican - 2009 All-Big East - 2009 All-Mid-Atlantic team - 2009 USTFCCCA All-Academic team - 2008 cross country All-American - 2008 Big East individual cross country champion - 2008 All-Big East

2012 Cross Country

- 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region - 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District first team - 2007 Seventh place in the 3,000-meter race at NCAAs track and field championships - 2007 3,000-meter Big East indoor track and field champion -2007 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American national third team

Keri Bland - 2011: All-American (indoor, outdoor 1,500m) - 2011: Third-team Academic All-American - 2007-08 and 2009-10 AllAmerican in all three sports - 2009 Cross country All-American - 2009 All-Big East - 2009 All-Mid-Atlantic Region - 2009 USTFCCCA All-Academic team - 2009 Big East Indoor Championship Most Outstanding Performer - Set school and Big East Championship meet records in mile event at 2009 indoor championship - First WVU female to become All-American in three sports in same year (2008) - 2008 cross country All-American - 2008 All-Big East - 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region - 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District second team - 2008 1,000-meter Big East indoor track and field champion - 2008 10th in the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA outdoor championships Clara Grandt - 2009 cross country All-American - 2009 All-Big East - 2009 All-Mid-Atlantic Region - 2009 USTFCCCA All-Academic team - Big East Cross Country Runner of the Week (9/24/09) - 2009 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year - 10,000-meter ECAC outdoor meet record - NCAA outdoor qualifier in 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter - 2008 Team USA Cross Country team member - NCAC Champion - 2008 All-Big East - 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region

Coach Sean Cleary

Jordan Hamric

One-on-One With Coach Sean Cleary A look at the 2012 season Who will lead this year’s team? Obviously Kaitlyn Gillespie and Sarah-Anne Brault in the NCAA region are the top returners, so when you take away the graduates like Kate Harrison, they are actually favored to go 1 and 2 in the region. That is a little misleading statistics because there are people so close behind them because people improve in track and injuries happen but what it does show is that they are two of the very best in the MidAtlantic Region. Running in the third spot from the returners is Stephanie Aldea. She has been to the National Championships twice in cross country and has experience. She is definitely one of the veterans of the team. What will we see this year with the move to the Big 12 Conference? The philosophy difference between the Big East and the Big 12 is that you see a little bit more international flavor. In cross country, it is going to be a touch easier in terms of the

Stephanie Aldea and Sarah-Anne Brault depth, but my closest friends are saying I am going to win all these titles, to me it is not. The four or five best teams in the Big 12 have awesome coaches and years that I don’t have a phenomenal team, we can still finish more respectively in the Big 12 then we would have in the Big East. We are just going to race different countries now. It is going to be more Kenya and Europe than the best American kids, which are in the Big East. It is not going to be the drop off that a lot think that it is going to be for our team. Ours is not a step up, but it is not a huge step down by any means. What is your philosophy on redshirting? My philosophy in coaching is to protect the kids. By that I mean looking at the overall clock knowing that I have five years to use the girls when they can most contribute to the team and when is the best time for them to redshirt. All the girls we bring in have the potential to be national-class runners, but the timing has to be right. I want to protect them and redshirt them and get them into a situation where as fifth-year seniors we have them at the pinnacle of their athletic careers.

26 | West Virginia University

How do you determine who will race each meet and how do injuries come into play? It just depends on who shows up to compete for spots in the preceding weeks before a meet. Sometimes the kids can get a bit stale from being held out. Other times they are so fresh and ready to race that they run the best race of the whole year. I would say that we haven’t faltered in terms of sickness or injury with any of the girls. They are probably anticipating and wanting to race more than anyone. What are the expectations after the success of 2011? We have great front runners and a pack of unknowns at this level who have experience and a bunch of freshmen that are just going to come in and say bring it. I am not sure what that team will do. With two at the very front, that’s different because you can strategize and you can just run as a pack, now it is just a free for all. Girls are going to have to make big break throughs and you run a risk by going out and running way too hard so it is kind of a tricky thing. I feel that if every one of our girls makes a decision in college to work and she follows the path of the last two to three generations, there is no reason that she can’t be right alongside our other All-Americans. I certainly expect to

see three or four of them on there by graduation and be the next generation years from now when they get some experience. That group, I have full intentions, and this is rare because I redshirt a lot when they come in, but if they show up to camp and they emerge from camp and transition academically into college well, they are going to be thrown into the fire. We are just going to do it. Having a balance of experienced and young runners, how did the team approach the offseason? The girls understand that it is a very long year to get through cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. The emphasis is to put ourselves in the best position at the end of the summer and into the fall to be prepared for the best cross country and track seasons possible. I am very happy with the quality and focus that we achieved this summer. Traditions are made over generations; the team understood what it needed to do this summer and handled itself like veterans.

faction to see the end result of such changes transpire into fantastic races. It is very difficult to change certain qualities about ourselves, but when we do, life becomes more meaningful and invites new goals and aspirations. What is the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall goal this season? Win a Big 12 championship and qualify as a team for the NCAA Championships. Overall, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to be at nationals running the best races of our lives on the day that matters most.

What is your favorite part of coaching? Watching a young athlete mature. I am involved in coaching to help invoke behavior change off the field that will help performances on the field. It is a great moment for me when I watch the athletes that I work with fully understand the things about themselves that are needed to be improved upon in order to become better friends, roommates, daughters and teammates. It gives me great satis-

What does the roster indicate about the running talent level of the state of West Virginia? Our roster continues to be filled with West Virginia natives. As long as I am the head coach of the Mountaineers, this will remain the case. Talent is hidden in every small town in America; it is simply a matter of finding it and nurturing it. We are very proud of our West Virginia tradition.

Kaitlyn Gillespie 27

2012 Cross Country

Tanner Kolb

Strength Coach

Sandy Cole-DeMent

Amy Hile

Athletic Trainer

Bubba Schmidt

Educational Counselor

Equipment Manager

Abby Norman

Dr. Matt Lively

Sports Communications Graduate Assistant

Medical Director

Cindy Smith

Administrative Assistant

28 | West Virginia University

Becky Connolly

Gradaute Assistant Athletic Trainer

Steve Bierer

Assistant Equipment Manager

Mark Cormier

Sports Psychologist

30...............................................................Rosters 31................................................ Stephanie Aldea 32.............................................Sarah-Anne Brault 33.................................................Kaitlyn Gillespie 34................................................... Aubrey Moskal 35.....................................................Hallie Portner 36........................... Rachel Buser/Jordan Hamric 37.......................Chelsea Jarvic/Sarah Martinelli 38........................... Lydia Martinelli/Allison Pettit 39................Savanna Plombon/Sarah McCauley 40......................... Letitia Prosbt/Alyssa Scherich 41.............................. Sydney Scott/Paige Szabat 42..............................Kelly Williams/Megan Yuan

2012 Cross Country

2012 Roster Name

Yr.

Ht.

Hometown

High School / Last School

Stephanie Aldea

r-Sr.

5-8

Windsor, Ontario

Sarah-Anne Brault

r-Sr.

5-6

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Rachel Buser

r-Jr.

5-5

Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Kaitlyn Gillespie

Sr.

5-2

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Cedarville University

Jordan Hamric

r-Jr.

5-4

Bruceton Mills, W.Va.

Preston

Chelsea Jarvis

r-Jr.

5-2

Clendenin, W.Va.

Capital

Lydia Martinelli

r-So.

4-11

Morgantown, W.Va.

University

Sarah Martinelli

r-Jr.

5-2

Morgantown, W.Va.

University

Sarah McCauley

r-Fr.

5-4

Belington, W.Va.

Aubrey Moskal

r-Sr.

5-3

Morgantown, W.Va.

Morgantown

Allison Pettit

r-So.

5-6

Morgantown, W.Va.

Morgantown

Savanna Plombon

So.

5-8

Frederick, Md.

Hallie Portner

r-Sr.

5-1

Morgantown, W.Va.

Letitia Probst

r-Fr.

5-4

Elkins, W.Va.

Alyssa Scherich

Fr.

5-7

Fairmont, W.Va.

Sydney Scott

Fr.

5-3

Denver, Colo.

Paige Szabat

Fr.

5-3

Wadsworth, Ohio

Kelly Williams

Fr.

5-9

Chesterland, Ohio

Megan Yuan

Fr.

5-8

Thunder Bay, Ontario

University of Houston CollĂ¨ge Louis-Riel Berkeley Springs

Philip Barbour

Lehigh University Elkins Fairmont Senior South Wadsworth West Geauga St. Ignatius Secondary

Head Coach: Sean Cleary

By State/Country Colorado 1 Manitoba 1 Maryland 1 Ohio 3 Ontario 2 West Virginia

Pronunciation Guide Last Names Aldea All-day-uh Brault Br-O Buser B-yew-ser Gillespie Gill-espy Hamric Ham-rick McCauley Mc-Caw-lee Moskal Moss-cull Probst Praw-st First Names Letitia La-teesh-a

Chelsea Jarvis 30 | West Virginia University

Stephanie Aldea 5-8 | Senior Windsor, Ontario

At West Virginia in 2011 • Was the fifth Mountaineer to score at the NCAA Championship, arriving in 172nd place with a 6k time of 21:36 • Came in 66th place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in 23:46 (6k) • Arrived in 43rd place at the Big East Championship in 21:36 (6k) • Finished in 35th place at the Penn State National in 22:26 (6k) • Came in 15th place at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 17:26 (5k) • Earned a 32nd-place finish at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:15 (4k)

Prep • Ran for Scott Moncur at St. Anne High • OFSAA medalist during senior season in the 1500-meter and 3000-meter • WECSSAA 3,000-meter record holder, breaking a 26-year record

At West Virginia in 2010 • Redshirt season At Houston in 2009 • Placed 16th in the NCAA South-Central Regional, helping team to a seventh-place finish At Houston in 2008 • Named Conference USA’s Rookie of the Year for women’s cross country • Qualified for the NCAA Championships, finishing 215th overall

2012 Cross Country

Personal • Daughter of Terry and Jasna Aldea • Has one sister • Birthday is Feb. 1 • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in economics

Sarah-Anne Brault 5-6 | Senior Winnipeg, Manitoba

At West Virginia in 2011 • Finished in 68th place at the NCAA Championship with a 6k time of 20:47 as the third WVU runner to score • Came in eighth place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in 21:53 (6k), earning all-region honors • Earned All-Big East honors with 11th-place finish at the Big East Championship in 20:24 (6k) • Finished in sixth place at the Penn State National in 21:21 (6k) • Came in fifth place at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 13:28 (4k) At West Virginia in 2010 • Qualified to compete individually at the NCAA Championships, finishing in 71st overall at 21:08 (6k) • Earned all-Mid-Atlantic Region honors with a 16th-place mark in 20:51(6k) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional • Arrived in 22nd place at the BIG EAST Championships in 21:46 (6k) • Came in 26th place at the BIG EAST Preview in 20:10 (5.4k) • Took second place at the Notre Dame Invitational with a 5K time of 17:30 • Had an 11th-place finish at the Penn State National in 21:05 (6k)

At West Virginia in 2009 • Finished in seventh (18:05.3) at the Midwest Open 5k course • Placed 13th at the Paul Short Invitational, crossing the line with a time of 20:35 (6k) • Crossed the line in eighth place with a 6k time of 20:59 at the Penn State Invitational At West Virginia in 2009 • Redshirt season Prep • Ran for coach Alphonse Bernard at Collège Louis-Riel • Voted Manitoba Distance Female Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007 • Owns 5,000-meter junior female provincial record

32 | West Virginia University

• Silver medal winner in 3,000-meter at Canadian junior nationals in 2006 and 2007 • Represented Manitoba at cross country junior nationals in 2005 and 2006 • 2008 Manitoba Half Marathon winner • Four-time cross country provincial champion (2004-07) • Member of Manitoba High School Athletic Association • Member of junior national triathlon team from 2006-08 Personal • Daughter of David Brault and Sylvie De Serres • One of three children • Birthday is Dec. 1 • Named to 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic team • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in economics

Kaitlyn Gillespie 5-2 | Senior Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

At West Virginia in 2011 • Achieved All-America honors with a 27th-place mark at the NCAA Championship in 20:17 (6k) • Came in seventh place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in 21:46 (6k), earning all-region honors • Earned all-BIG EAST honors with seventhplace finish at the BIG EAST Championship in 20:14 (6k) • Came in second place at the Penn State National in 20:53 (6k) • Arrived in second place at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 13:18 (4k)

At West Virginia in 2009 • NCCAA and NAIA All-American • Placed sixth at the NAIA Championships • Named conference female athlete of the week four times • Named team’s Most Valuable Runner • Took first place at the Shawnee State Invitational, the DePauw/Rose-Hulman Invitational, the Aquinas Invitational, the American Conference Championship and the NCCAA Championships

At West Virginia in 2010 • Earned All-America honors following her 34th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 20:46 (6k) • Achieved all-Mid-Atlantic Region accolades with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in 20:31 (6k) • Earned all-BIG EAST honors with a 10th-place mark at the BIG EAST Championships with a 6k time of 21:17 • Finished 17th at the Penn State National with a 6k time of 21:13 • Came in first place at the BIG EAST Preview in 18:28 • Achieved her second first-place finish of the season at the Notre Dame Invitational with a 5K time of 17:24

2012 Cross Country

Prep • Captain of the cross country team at Cuyahoga Falls Christian Academy • 2008 state champion in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter races • Member of 2008 state championship team • Dapper Dan Club of Akron honoree

Personal • Daughter of Jim and Diane Gillespie • Has one brother and a sister • Birthday is June 28 • Named to 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic team • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in exercise physiology

Aubrey Moskal 5-3 | Senior Morgantown, W.Va.

At West Virginia in 2011 • Arrived in 68th place at the BIG EAST Championship in 22:26 (6k) • Finished in 90th place at the Penn State National in 23:28 (6k) • Achieved a 73rd-place finish at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 18:16 (5k) • Earned a 43rd-place finish at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:27 (4k) • Came in ninth place at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational with a 5k time of 18:37 At West Virginia in 2010 • Ran at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, taking 50th place with a 6K time of 22:07 • Came in 55th place at the BIG EAST Championships in 23:06 (6k) • Competed at the Penn State National, finishing with a 6k time of 22:57 • Arrived in 25th place at the BIG EAST Preview with a time of 20:09 • Finished in second place at the WVU Invitational with a 4K time of 15:20

At West Virginia in 2009 • Raced at the ECAC Championships, finishing in 18:25 • Came in 21st at the Maryland Eastern Shore Lid-Lifter Invitational At West Virginia in 2008 • Redshirt season • Finished 33rd (23:10) in the junior women’s 6K at the United States World Cross Country Trials Prep • A top-15 finisher at the state cross country meet for three years at Morgantown High • All-state in cross country as a freshman

34 | West Virginia University

• Captain of state runner-up cross country team as a senior • All-state in 800-meters and 4x800 as a senior Personal • Daughter of Pam Moskal • Birthday is Feb. 20 • Sister, Lauren, competes for the WVU track & field team • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in elementary education

Hallie Portner 5-1 | Senior Morgantown, W.Va.

At West Virginia in 2011 • Arrived in 93rd place at the BIG EAST Championship in 23:07 (6k) • Came in 83rd place at the Penn State National in 23:23 (6k) • Achieved a 110th-place finish at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 18:33 (5k) • Finished in 49th place at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:33 (4k) • Came in sixth place at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational with a 5k time of 18:24 At West Virginia in 2010 • Came in 62nd at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional with a 6k time of 22:20 • Arrived in 53rd place at the BIG EAST Championships with a 6k time of 23:01 • Finished 73rd at the Penn State National, crossing the line in 22:23 (6k) • Came in 26th place at the Notre Dame Invitational in 18:37 (5k) • Arrived in 23rd place at the BIG EAST Preview in 20:00 • Earned a first-place finish at the WVU Invitational with a 4K time of 15:02

At West Virginia in 2008 • Redshirted • Finished 32nd (23:08) in the junior women’s 6K at the United States World Cross Country Trials Prep • Coached by Ed Frohnapfel at University High • NCAC 1,600-meter champion and took third at 2008 state meet • Helped cross country team win 2007 NCAC, regional and state titles • Took third individually at the 2007 state cross country meet • All-conference in track and cross country • Also played soccer

At West Virginia in 2009 • Raced at the ECAC Championships, finishing in 18:18 • Came in seventh at the Maryland Eastern Shore Invitational, crossing the line in 19:06

2012 Cross Country

Personal • Daughter of Robert and Darlene Portner • Full name is Hallina • Grew up in Colorado Springs, Colo., before moving to Morgantown • One of two children • Birthday is May 14 • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in exercise physiology

Rachel Buser 5-5 | Junior Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

At West Virginia in 2011 • Did not compete At West Virginia in 2010 • Redshirt season

Prep • All-American at Berkeley Springs High, placing third at the USATF Junior Olympic Championships • Four-time A/AA state champion • McCoy Award recipient • AAU Cross Country Girls Youth national champion • Three-time champion who owns state records in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter races • Also played basketball

Personal • Daughter of Steve and Betsy Buser • Has one brother • Birthday is May 27 • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in child development and family studies

At West Virginia in 2009 • Saw limited action

Jordan Hamric 5-4 | Junior Bruceton Mills, W.Va. At West Virginia in 2011 • Came in 253rd place at the NCAA Championship, crossing the finish line with a 6k time of 23:31 • Arrived in 62nd place at the Big East Championship in 22:20 (6k) • Finished in 59th place at the Penn State National in 23:05 (6k) Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:37 (4k) • Came in 13th place at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational in 19:04 (5k)

• Arrived in 48th place at the Notre Dame Invitational with a 5K time of 18:56 • Earned a 39th-place mark at the Big East Preview in 21:05 • Came in third at the WVU Invitational with a 4K time of 15:25 At West Virginia in 2009 • Medical redshirt season At West Virginia in 2008 • Redshirt season

At West Virginia in 2010 • Came in 85th at the Big East Championships with a 6K time of 24:39 • Competed at the Penn State National, crossing the finish line in 23:12 (6k)

36 | West Virginia University

Prep • Ran cross country and track for coach Paul Martin at Preston High • All-state in cross country as senior, finishing ninth at state championships • State champion of the 3,200-meter as a junior • Placed second in the 3,200-meter run as a senior • Member of record-setting 4x800-meter state champion relay in 2005 and 2007 Personal • Daughter of Ron and Michelle Hamric • Sister, Karly, also ran track and cross country at WVU • Birthday is Oct. 4 • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in exercise physiology

Chelsea Jarvis 5-2 | Junior Clendenin, W.Va. At West Virginia in 2011 • Finished in 124th place at the Penn State National in 23:52 (6k) • Achieved a 200th-place mark at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 19:10 (5k) • Earned an 80th-place finish at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 15:25 (4k) • Came in 26th place at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational with a 5k time of 20:00

At West Virginia in 2010 • Came in 88th at the BIG EAST Championships with a 6K time of 24:46 • Competed at the Penn State National with a 6k time of 23:36 • Finished 33rd at the BIG EAST Preview at Syracuse at 20:35 • Came in fourth at the WVU Invitational, finishing the 4K race in 15:33 At West Virginia in 2009 • Redshirted

Prep • Coached by Cali Wesson at Capital High • Three-time regional champion • Ran for the Wapiti Runners coached by Dave Fields Personal • Daughter of Scott and Terri Jarvis • Has one sister • Birthday is Dec. 27 • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in biology

Sarah Martinelli 5-2 | Junior Morgantown, W.Va.

At West Virginia in 2011 • Finished in 94th place at the Penn State National in 23:33 (6k) • Achieved a 67th-place finish at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 18:13 (5k) • Earned a 63rd-place finish at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:54 (4k) • Came in eighth place at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational in 18:37 (5k)

At West Virginia in 2010 • Came in 52nd at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional with a 6K time of 22:07 • Arrived in 46th at the BIG EAST Championships in 22:51(6k) • Finished 83rd at the Penn State National in 22:28 (6k) • Raced at the Notre Dame Invitational, finishing in 38th with a 5k time of 18:47 At West Virginia in 2009 • Redshirt season Prep • 2008 cross country captain for coach Ed Frohnapel at University High • Helped team to two straight state titles • Placed 10th individually at the state championship in 2008 • Named first team all-conference in 2007-08

2012 Cross Country

Personal • Daughter of David and Paula Martinelli • Has one brother and two sisters • Sister, Lydia, also competes for track and cross country at WVU • Birthday is Sept. 25 • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in exercise physiology

Lydia Martinelli 4-11 | Junior Morgantown, W.Va. Prep • An all-state runner for three consecutive years at University High • Ran for coach Dan Demchalz

Personal • Daughter of David and Paula Martinelli • Has one brother and two sisters • Sister, Sarah, also competes for the team • Birthday is June 11 • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in secondary education

At West Virginia in 2011 • Did not compete At West Virginia in 2010 • Redshirt season • Ran unattached at the WVU Invitational, finishing eighth overall in 16:19

Allison Pettit 5-6 | Sophomore Morgantown, W.Va. At West Virginia in 2011 • Came in 91st place at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic in 18:24 (5k) • Earned a 57th-place finish at the Toledo Bubble Buster Invitational in 14:44 (4k) • Competed at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational

Prep • MVP of Morgantown High cross country and track teams • Ran under coach John Patti and coach Mike Ryan • Recipient of the Arthur Clyde Award • National Honors Society member and officer

At West Virginia in 2010 • Redshirted • Ran unattached at the WVU Invitational, BIG EAST Preview and Notre Dame Invitational

38 | West Virginia University

Personal • Daughter of John and Denise Pettit • Has one sister • Birthday is Nov. 20 • Father competed for WVU swim team • Big East Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll member • Majoring in exercise physiology

Savanna Plombon 5-8 | Sophomore Frederick, Md.

At Lehigh in 2011 • Placed second at the Lehigh Invitational (6k) with a time of 22:05.50 and in a dual meet versus Lafayette with a time of 22:11.6 • Finished 84th at the Paul Short Run (6k) with a personal best time of 22:02 • Came in 54th at the Penn State National Invitational with a 6k time of 22:58 • Named Patriot League Cross Country Rookie of the Week on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 • Named to the 2012 All-Patriot League second team in the 3,000-meter run

• Holds the Lehigh school record in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:49.36 • Member of the 2012 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll Prep • Ran for coach Nicholas Snyder at Thomas Johnson • 2011 MPSSAA Maryland Indoor State Champion in the 800-meter run • 2010 Frederick County and 4A North Regional Individual Cross Country Champion • Member of the 2010 Frederick County and Maryland State Cross Country first teams • As a junior, finished second at the 2009 Frederick County Championships, The Maryland 4A North Regional and the Maryland State Championships • Competed in the 5,000-meter 2009 Nike Cross National Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships and finished 36th with a season best time of 18:55

Personal • Daughter of Daniel and Tama Plombon • Has one brother • Birthday is June 18 • Majoring in pre-biology

Sarah McCauley 5-4 | Freshman Belington, W.Va. At West Virginia in 2011 • Redshirt season Prep • Coached by Missy Kaiser at Philip Barbour High • 1600- and 3200-meter champion in 2010 and 2011 • 2010 Gatorade West Virginia Cross Country Runner of the Year

• Won individual title, led team to state cross country title in 2010 • Placed third at state championships in 2008 and 2009, earning all-state • 1600-meter champion in 2008 • Also competed in basketball, volleyball and track • Graduated magna cum laude with a 3.88 GPA • Student Body Vice-President

2012 Cross Country

Personal • Daughter of George and Robin McCauley • Has one brother • Birthday is Nov. 29 • Plans to major in dental hygiene

Letitia Probst 5-4 | Freshman Elkins, W.Va. At West Virginia in 2011 • Redshirt season Prep • Coached by Shellie Burda at Elkins High • Earned three individual state cross country titles (2007, 2008, 2010) • Achieved four individual regional cross country titles and three personal NCAC titles

• Earned three individual track titles as a senior in the 3200-, 1600- and 800-meter runs • Two-time Gatorade Player of the Year (2007, 2008) • Also competed in swimming • National Honor Society member • National Spanish Honor Society • Served as Student Body Vice President

Personal • Daughter of Lanny and Molly Propst • Father was a multi-sport athlete at Potomac State, walked on at WVU in track • Has one brother • Birthday is Dec. 3 • Enrolled in general studies

Alyssa Scherich 5-7 | Freshman Fairmont, W.Va. Prep • Ran for coach Eric Moffa at Fairmont Senior • Placed third at the West Virginia State Cross Country Championships (5,000-meter) in 2010 • Finished first in the 5000-meter run at the 2011 Big Ten Conference Championship with a time of 21:32 • Ran a season-best time of 19:31 in the 5,000-meter at the 2011 West Virginia State Cross Country Championships, placing 6th • Honored with Big Ten Conference Runner of the Year Award

• Named All-NCAC • Won the 100-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter runs at the 2012 Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships while placing second in the 100-meter hurdles • Finished first at the 2012 West Virginia State Track and Field Championships in the 800-meter run with a personal best time of 2:16.69 • Placed second and third in the 400-meter and 100-meter hurdles, respectively, at the 2012 West Virginia State Track and Field Championships

40 | West Virginia University

Personal • Daughter of Kenneth and Kimberly Scherich • Has one brother • Birthday is Sept. 1 • Majoring in pre-exercise physiology

Sydney Scott 5-3 | Freshman Denver, Colo. Prep • Attended the Denver School of Arts and ran under the guidance of John Gregorio at Denver South • Finished second and third in the 3200-meter and 1600-meter runs, respectively, at the 2011 and 2012 Colorado State High School Track and Field Championships • Came in first at the 2011 5k Colorado 4A Region 3 Championships • State Champion at the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships (5k) • Placed sixth with a time of 18:17.2 at the 2011 Footlocker Midwest Regional Championships

• Qualified for the Footlocker National High School Cross Country Championships and finished 26th with a time of 18:17.2 • Two-time winner of the Denver Public Schools League Meet in 2010 and 2011 • Finished eighth at the 2010 Nike Cross National Southwest Regional Cross Country Championships • As a junior, placed second at the 2010 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships (5k) • Placed 12th in the 1,600-meter and 19th in the 3,200-meter runs at the 2010 New Balance High School Nationals

• Competed at the 2010 USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships and placed second in the intermediate (15-16) 3,000-meter run and fourth in the 1,500-meter run Personal • Daughter of Andy and Martha Scott and Cathy Scott • Has one sister • Birthday is July 21 • Majoring in pre-music performance

Paige Szabat 5-3 | Freshman Wadsworth, Ohio Prep • Ran for coach Michelle Farr and was captain at Wadsworth • Ran to a top 15 finish in the 3,200-meter run her final three years at the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships • Won the 3,200-meter run at the Akron Suburban League Track and Field Championships from 2010-12

• Received All-Ohio honors at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships in 2008, 2009 and 2011 • All-Suburban League in Cross Country and Track • Placed 65th at the 2009 Footlocker Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships with a time of 19:39

2012 Cross Country

Personal • Daughter of Raymond and Carol Szabat • Birthday is Dec. 10 • Dad played soccer at Akron from 1980-83 • Majoring in pre-biochemistry

Kelly Williams 5-9 | Freshman Chesterland, Ohio Prep • Coached by Mike Taurasi at West Geauga High • Earned all-state in the 800-meter her senior year • Achieved all-state in the 4x400 her sophomore year

• Graduated with a 4.1 GPA • Member of the National Honor Society • Student Council Secretary • Also competed in gymnastics

Personal • Daughter of Wayne and Beth Williams • Older sister, Katelyn, is a former All-American high jumper at WVU • Has two brothers • Birthday is Aug. 7 • Majoring in pre-human nutrition and foods

Megan Yuan 5-8 | Freshman Thunder Bay, Ontario Prep • Ran at St. Ignatius • Placed 10th at the 2011 Junior Division Canadian Cross Country Championships • Sixth at the 2011 OFSAA Senior Division Cross Country Championships • 2011 Canadian Youth Division 3,000-meter Champion

• Finished second at the 2009 Junior Division OFSAA Cross Country Championships • 2009 Canadian Midget Division 3,000-meter Champion • Placed third at the 2009 Canadian Midget Division 1,500-meter run • Finished third at the 2011 AO Youth Cross Country Championships in the 1,500-meter run

42 | West Virginia University

Personal • Daughter of Mike and Sue Yuan • Has two brothers • Birthday is Feb. 9 • Majoring in pre-sports psychology

44................................................. Season Preview 46..................................................2012 Schedule

2012 Cross Country

Aubrey Moskal

Stephanie Aldea

2012 Season Preview WVU returns 13 letterwinners from last year Building on Tradition The 2012 West Virginia University cross country team looks to build on a tradition that has been the corner stone of sixth-year coach Sean Cleary--competing and winning at the highest level. Cleary has built the Mountaineers into a nationally-known program that has seen 12 All-American selections, a Big East team and individual champion title and a top 10 finish in the past four out of five NCAA Championships. WVU is faced with the tough challenge of not only making the transition to the Big 12 Conference, and doing so without All-American Kate Harrison who finished in a program-best eighth place at the 2011 NCAA Championships. ”We have great front runners and a pack of unknowns at this level who have experience and a bunch of freshmen that are just going to come in and say bring it,” Cleary said. “I am not sure what that team will do. With two at the very front, that’s different because you can strategize and you can just run as a pack, now it is just a free for all. Girls are going to have to make big break throughs and you run a risk by going out and running way too hard so it is kind of a tricky thing.

Kaitlyn Gillespie ”I feel that if every one of our girls makes a decision in college to work and they follow the path of the last two to three generations, there is no reason that they can’t be right alongside our other All-Americans. I certainly expect to see three or four of them on there by graduation and be the next generation years from now when they get some experience. That group, I have full intentions, and this is rare because I redshirt a lot when they come in, but if they show up to camp and they emerge from camp and transition academically into college well, they are going to be thrown into the fire. We are just going to do it.” All-American Returners The cross country team will rely on the experience of two-time cross country AllAmerican Kaitlyn Gillespie and track and field All-American Sarah-Anne Brault to lead the team this fall. Gillespie became the fourth cross country Mountaineer to gain multiple All-American selections after finishing in 27th place at the NCAA Championships with a 6k time of 20:17. The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio native also garnered all-conference and all-region honors after finishing seventh at the Big East Conference Championships and the MidAtlantic Regional Championships. Brault, who was the first alternate for Canada in the triathlon for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, looks to build off her 68th-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Brault received second team

44 | West Virginia University

All-American honors after a 10th-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. ”Obviously Kaitlyn Gillespie and Sarah-Anne Brault in the NCAA region are the top returners,” Cleary said. “When you take away the graduates like Kate Harrison, they are actually favored to go one and two in the region. That is a little misleading statistic because there are people so close behind them because people improve in track and injuries happen, but what it does show is that they are two of the very best in the Mid-Atlantic Region.” Coming in Third Another strong contributor for the Mountaineers will be redshirt senior Stephanie Aldea, who sat out the track and field season with an Achilles injury. Aldea provided a crucial 48th place finish at the Big East Championships last fall that helped the team tie Syracuse for fourth place. The Windsor, Ontario also finished 15th and 35th at the Greater Louisville Classic and the Penn State National Meet, respectively. ”Running in the third spot from the returners is Stephanie Aldea,” Cleary said. “She has been to the National Championships twice in cross country and has experience. She is definitely one of the veterans of the team.”

The Running Duo The team will also see big contributions from redshirt senior Aubrey Moskal and redshirt junior Jordan Hamric in the four and five position early this fall. Hamric had her best finish of 13th place at the Lid-Lifter Invitational and was the seventh runner to cross the line for WVU at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Moskal competed in five meets for the Mountaineers last fall with her best finish being ninth at the Lid-Lifter Invitational. ”Jordan Hamric had a breakthrough year in track and went to the NCAA Regional in steeplechase,” Cleary said. “Jordan actually ran at the NCAA Championships last year and snuck the seventh spot to go there, so she has some experience there. ”Aubrey Moskal has virtually been Jordan’s twin for the last 12 months in everything that they have done. “ Up and Coming Young Group Backing up the strong group of returners, Cleary will have a group of inexperienced, but talented runners to compliment his program. ”Saarah Martinelli has had big breakthroughs. She was very quiet because I had her running in events where she wouldn’t make the region, but her improvement over the last eight or nine months in track will put her in a much improved role in the fall,” Cleary said. “Hallie Portner is in there with them and Chelsea Jarvis will contribute as well.” Also looking to see time on the course this fall will be the two redshirt freshman-Letitia Probst and Sarah McCauley. ”Letitia Probst was the state cross country

champion three times in high school,” Cleary said. “She saw nice improvements over the course of the year. Sarah McCauley is having a great summer and I expect the two redshirted freshmen to come in and actually challenge some of those other ones.” Newcomers With the loss of four All-Americans within the last three years, Cleary has brought in a recruiting class with runners that have already received national attention. ”We have arguably our best recruiting class in four or five years coming in. It is the first time we have actually really had a class coming in a long, long time.” Sydney Scott brings the most credentials to WVU. The state champion at the 2011 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships, Scott also placed sixth with a time of 18:17.2 at the 2011 Footlocker Midwest Regional Championships, which qualified her for the Footlocker National High School Cross Country Championships where she crossed the line in 26th place. ”Sydney Scott is probably the most accomplished high school runner that we have ever brought here from America,” Cleary said. “I have a Canadian or two that might be equal or better, but I have never brought in an American better than this girl. That is exciting because Sydney can have an impact the second she gets on campus.” Cleary will continue his streak of Canadian runners with the signing of Megan Yuan. Yuan placed 10th at the 2011 Junior Division Canadi-

an Cross Country Championships and was the 2009 Canadian Midget Division 3,000-meter Champion and 2011 Canadian Youth Division 3,000-meter Champion. ”Megan Yuan is from Canada but is actually American,” Cleary said. “She and Sydney are a tremendous 1-2 punch high school seniors coming in. She is very similar to all the other Canadians that I have brought in. Rarely did I ever get the superstar Canadians, I would get second tier, but they would eventually move through the ranks of NCAA and became the better ones. This one will be very similar to her credentials.” Also joining the Mountaineers will be Paige Szbot and Alyssa Scherich. ”Paige Szbot is unheralded and flew under the radar,” Cleary said. “She is very comparable to any Americans that I have brought in. She is not the best, but she surely has the desire and she has enough of a resume coming in that she should certainly become one of our runners in the next few years. ”Alyssa Scherich, I feel, hits the mold of the West Virginia girls that I have brought in seven years ago that absolutely no one in the country recruited them and they became the greatest runners that we have ever had and Olympic level type runners. This one out of Fairmont hits similar criteria. She has phenomenal leg speed and she showed good endurance during the state cross country meet. She doesn’t have the other ones credentials but my feeling is that she is going to be a surprise to a lot of people in the next few years. Transferring In WVU will also be adding transfer Savanna Plombon from Lehigh who was named Patriot League Cross Country Rookie of the Week twice in 2011 and the all-Patriot League second-team in the 3,000m run. ”Lehigh did a great job with Savanna in her first year,” Cleary said. “She has had tremendous improvement. She just wanted to be in a different culture running wise so she is coming in with college experience and she has great maturity. Preseason Rankings The success of the cross country program over the last couple of years was seen in the 2012 USTFCCCA National Division I Women’s Preseason Poll where the Mountaineers were ranked No. 21 in the nation and No. 4 in the Mid-Atlantic Region. ”A new era of cross country is starting at WVU,” Cleary said. “It’s a testament to past teams that our peers still recognize us as a team of such quality. Time will tell how good we are. For now, we will keep working hard and do our best to prepare for November.”

Sydney Scott 45

2012 Cross Country

2012 Schedule The Big 12 Championships are set for Oct. 27 in Austin, Texas Day Date

Event

Location

Friday

Aug. 31

WVU Alumni Open

Morgantown, W.Va.

Saturday

Sept. 8

PSU Spiked Shoe

Friday

Sept. 21

Toledo Bubble Buster

Saturday

Sept. 29

Greater Louisville Classic

Louisville, Ky.

Saturday

Oct. 13

Pre-Nationals

Louisville, Ky.

Saturday

Oct. 27

Big 12 Championships

Austin, Texas

Friday

Nov. 9

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Saturday

Nov. 17

NCAA Cross Country Championship

46 | West Virginia University

State College, Pa. Toledo, Ohio

State College, Pa. Louisville, Ky.

48.................................................. Season Review 49............................................................... Results 50.................................................... Meet-by-Meet

2012 Cross Country

Stephanie Caruso

Ahna Lewis

2011 Season Review Mountaineers finish the season ranked No. 8 After earning four Top-10 national finishes in his five seasons as head coach of the West Virginia University cross country team, it is safe to say that Sean Cleary has established a nationally recognized and respected program in the running community. In a season which saw the Mountaineers place first at the prestigious Penn State National, garner two second-place finishes, and finish the year with strong placements at the league, regional and national competitions, there is clear evidence that Cleary has the program moving in the right direction as it finished the season ranked No. 8 in the country. The championship portion of the year was especially gratifying for the Mountaineers. The team tied for fourth with No. 9 Syracuse at the BIG EAST Championship with three runners earning All-Big East accolades. They followed that with a third-place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional with five runners being named to the all-region team. To end the year, the Mountaineers finished eighth at the NCAA Championship with two runners becoming AllAmericans.

Kate Harrison Highlighting the 2011 campaign was senior Kate Harrison, who ended a stellar WVU career with one of the most impressive singleseason résumés in school history. A four-time NCAA participant, the Toronto, Ontario, native recorded the all-time program best finish at the NCAA Championship with an eighth-place mark, breaking Megan Metcalfe’s 2002 finish of ninth place at the event. She also finished the race with a career-best 6k time of 19:50 as she earned All-America honors for her first time in cross country and became the seventh Mountaineer in WVU cross country history to earn it. During the season, she was twice named the WVU Athlete of the Week and also earned All-Big East and All-Mid-Atlantic region honors. To earn all-conference, the senior placed third at the Big East Championship in 19:52, and followed it with a fifth-place finish in 21:38 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional to earn all-region marks for the third time of her career. Junior Kaitlyn Gillespie put together another fine season by earning all-conference, allregion and All-American honors for the second time of her career. As a junior, she placed seventh at the BIG EAST Championship in 20:14 and followed it with a seventh-place mark in 21:46 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. To earn All-America for the second time of her career, she came in 27th place at the NCAA

48 | West Virginia University

Championship with a 6k time of 20:17, improving in both placement and time from her 2010 NCAA finish. Sarah-Anne Brault continued to shine as one of the frontrunners of the squad to achieve All-Big East and All-Mid-Atlantic region honors for the second time of her career. To earn the league honor, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native placed 11th at the meet in 20:24, her best 6k time of the year. She followed that with an eighth-place mark at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional to earn all-region, and finished the season as the third WVU runner to cross the finish line at the NCAA Championship in 68th place overall. Senior Ahna Lewis completed her WVU career in solid fashion by earning All-MidAtlantic region honors with a 19th-place finish at the race in 22:20, her second time receiving the recognition. She also played key roles for the team by scoring at the NCAA Championship (116th place) and the BIG EAST Championship (28th). Her top finish came at the Penn State National, where she placed 11th in 21:41. A student-athlete to the fullest extent, Lewis was named as the 2011 recipient of the NCAA Elite 89 Award for the sport of cross country, given to the sport’s participant with the highest overall GPA and role on team for championship races. She was also the 2011 Big East Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete of the

Sarah-Anne Brault and Kate Harrison Year, the first time a cross country runner had received it at WVU since Charity Wachera in 1997. Kaylyn Christopher also finished on top in her final season by earning All-Mid-Atlantic region honors with a 25th-place mark and competing well for the team at Big East and the NCAA Championship. It was the third time of her WVU cross country career earning all-region honors. Other highlights included placing 17th at the Bubble Buster Invitational and 25th at the Penn State National. Following a 2010 redshirt year, junior Stephanie Aldea emerged as a consistent fourth and fifth runner on the team to provide crucial points at big races. She came in 43rd place at Big East as the fifth WVU finisher, which helped the team tie No. 9 Syracuse for fourth place at the event. She also provided points at the NCAA Championship with her 172nd-place finish. Jordan Hamric excelled during the championship portion of the season to assist the team at Big East, the Mid-Atlantic Regional and nationals. She came in 59th place at the Penn State National and had her best finish of 13th place at the Lid-Lifter Invitational. Senior Stephanie Caruso competed at the Louisville Cross Country Classic and Penn State National as her career came to a close. Chelsea Jarvis, Hallie Portner, Allison Pettit, Sarah Martinelli and Aubrey Moskal also competed well throughout the year. The team continued to excel in academics as Brault, Gillespie, Harrison and Lewis were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team, while the team itself was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic team for its accomplishments both in competition and in class.

2011 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cross Country Results Date

Event

Top Finisher

Sept. 3

Maryland Eastern Shore Lid Lifter

Hallie Portner

6th

Sept. 23

Inter-regional Bubble Buster

Kate Harrison

1st

Oct. 1

Greater Louisville Cr. Ctry. Classic

Stephanie Aldea

Oct. 14

Penn State National

Kate Harrison

1st

Oct. 29

BIG EAST Championship

Kate Harrison

3rd

Nov. 12

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Kate Harrison

5th

Nov. 21

NCAA Championship

Kate Harrison

8th

Kaylyn Christopher 49

2012 Cross Country

Results

15th

2011 Meet-by-Meet A detailed look at the 2011 season Maryland Eastern Shore Lid-Lifter Invitational, Sept. 3: Princess Anne, Md. The Mountaineers began the 2011 campaign with a strong start as they placed second at the UMES Lid-Lifter Invitational. The team finished with 52 points, behind only Navy’s 15, to defeat Delaware, Hampton, UMES, Norfolk State and others. Hallie Portner led the team with a sixthplace finish with a 5k time of 18:24. Redshirt sophomore Sarah Martinelli and redshirt junior Aubrey Moskal followed closely behind as they finished in eighth and ninth places, respectively, in 18:37 for the Mountaineers. Redshirt sophomore Jordan Hamric came in 13th place in 19:04, while redshirt sophomore Chelsea Jarvis finished in 26th place in 20 minutes even for the Mountaineers. Toledo Inter-regional Bubble Buster, Sept. 23: Toledo, Ohio Three top-10 finishes by West Virginia runners led the No. 19 Mountaineers to a second-place finish at the Inter-Regional Bubble Buster. WVU scored 57 points at the meet to defeat six other schools, with a strong Arkansas squad earning the victory with 36 points. Redshirt senior Kate Harrison, racing in her first meet of the year, finished in first place in the 93-runner field with a 4k time of 13:16. Teammate Kaitlyn Gillespie arrived close behind in second in 13:18, with redshirt junior Sarah-Anne Brault placed fifth in 13:28. Senior Kaylyn Christopher came in 17th place in 13:55, while Stephanie Aldea finished in 32nd place in 14:15. Junior Aubrey Moskal had a solid race with a 43rd-place mark in 14:27, with Hallie Portner (49) crossing in 14:33 and Jordan Hamric finishing in 51st place. Allison Pettit (57), Sarah Martinelli (63) and Chelsea Jarvis (80) rounded up the WVU field. Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, Oct. 1: Louisville, Ky. Two WVU runners placed in the top 20 to lead the No. 24 Mountaineers to an eighthplace finish at the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, the future site of the 2011 Big East Championship. West Virginia’s 247 points defeated 21 other schools as No. 13 Michigan placed first with 81 points. Redshirt junior Stephanie Aldea finished first for the team in 15th place out of 262 runners with a 5k time of 17:26. Senior Ahna

Lewis, racing in her first event of the year, arrived close behind in 19th place in 17:34. Sophomore Sarah Martinelli was the third WVU runner to cross the finish line in 67th place in 18:13, while teammates Aubrey Moskal (73rd) and Jordan Hamric (77th) arrived soon after to score the remaining team points. Mountaineers Allison Pettit (18:24), Hallie Portner (18:33), Stephanie Caruso (18:48) and Chelsea Jarvis (19:10) also competed Penn State National, Oct. 14: University Park, Pa. Securing the top two placements and five out of the top 25 runners at the Penn State National, No. 19 West Virginia beat two nationally ranked opponents Penn State and Duke and a bevy of other talented teams en route to its first team victory of the year. Under a steady rainfall and tough course conditions, WVU won the 6k race with 45 points, led by first- and second-place finishers Kate Harrison and Kaitlyn Gillespie, who paced the course in 20:50 and 20:53, respectively. Redshirt junior Sarah-Anne Brault arrived third for the team in sixth place in 21:21, while redshirt senior Ahna Lewis followed closely behind in 11th place in 21:41. Redshirt senior Kaylyn Christopher also scored team points with a 25th-place finish in 22:16. Junior Stephanie Aldea came in 35th place in 22:26, with junior Jordan Hamric in 59th place in 23:05. Teammates Hallie Portner (83rd, 23:23), Aubrey Moskal (90th, 23:28), Sarah Martinelli (94th, 23:33), Chelsea Jarvis (124th, 23:52) and Stephanie Caruso (152nd, 24:19) also raced at the event. Big East Championship, Oct. 29: Louisville, Ky. Three WVU runners placed in the top 15 to lead the No. 18 Mountaineers to a fourthplace tie with No. 9 Syracuse at 92 points at the Big East Championship. No. 4 Villanova won the league title with 54 points and was followed by No. 7 Providence (63) and No. 6 Georgetown (77). WVU topped No. 23 Notre Dame (136) and No. 28 Connecticut (165) as well as nine other Big East programs for the strong finish. Redshirt senior Kate Harrison led the Mountaineers with a third-place mark in the 6k race in 19:52, followed by junior Katie Gillespie in seventh place (20:14) and Sarah-Anne Brault in 11th place (20:24). With their placements, the trio earned All-Big East honors. Redshirt senior Ahna Lewis (21:04) and redshirt junior Stephanie Aldea (21:36) also provided team points with their respective 28th- and 43rd-place marks. Kaylyn Christopher (49th, 21:43), Jordan Hamric (62nd, 22:20),

50 | West Virginia University

Aubrey Moskal (68th, 22:26) and Hallie Portner (93rd, 23:07) also raced for the Mountaineers. Villanova claimed its fourth consecutive and 14th overall Big East title led by senior Sheila Reid, who won her third straight individual Big East title. NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Nov. 12: Princess Anne, Md. Hoping to qualify for a bid to the NCAA Championship, five West Virginia runners finished in the top 25 at the Mid-Atlantic regional to earn all-region honors and lead the No. 13 Mountaineers to a third-place mark. Senior Kate Harrison led the way for WVU with a fifth-place finish out of 199 runners and 6k time of 21:38. Junior Kaitlyn Gillespie came in seventh place in 21:46, while junior SarahAnne Brault (8th, 21:53) and redshirt seniors Ahna Lewis (19th, 22:20) and Kaylyn Christopher (25th, 22:38) also earned all-region. Redshirt junior Stephanie Aldea had a good race with a 66th-place overall finish in 23:46. No. 2-ranked Villanova and No. 7 Georgetown tied for first place with 57 points apiece. Villanova senior Sheila Reid came in first place in 21:32, followed by Georgetown’s Emily Infeld just two seconds later. The Mountaineers defeated No. 22 Penn State, which finished with 90 points, as well as Princeton and 24 other schools participating. NCAA Championship, Nov. 21: Terre Haute, Ind. Paced by a program-best individual finish by senior Kate Harrison, the No. 9 Mountaineers came in eighth place at the NCAA Championship. Its fourth Top-10 national finish in five years, the team earned 297 points behind Harrison’s eighth-place individual finish as she earned All-America honors for the first time of her WVU cross country career. It also broke former Mountaineer All-American Megan Metcalfe’s 2002 record of ninth place at the event. Earning All-America honors for the second time of her career, junior Kaitlyn Gillespie came in second for the team in 27th place overall in 20:17. Redshirt junior Sarah-Anne Brault arrived in 68th place in 20:47, while redshirt senior Ahna Lewis (116th, 21:11) and redshirt junior Stephanie Aldea (172nd, 21:36) also scored points for the Mountaineers. Racing in her final NCAA Championship, redshirt senior Kaylyn Christopher finished in 196th in 21:50, while redshirt junior Jordan Hamric came in 253rd place in 23:31. Georgetown won the national title as the Mountaineers finished ahead of No. 11 New Mexico and No. 13 Stanford to round up the top 10. West Virginia topped 20 other ranked programs with its eighth-place mark.

52............................................................... Honors 53.....................................................All-Americans

2012 Cross Country

Honors All-Americans Kaitlyn Gillespie Kate Harrison Marie-Louise Asselin Keri Bland Clara Grandt Megan Metcalfe Charity Wachera

2010, 2011 2011 2007, 2008, 2009 2007, 2008, 2009 2009 2002, 2004 1997

Division I District II Coaching Staff of the Year Martin Pushkin/Sean Cleary 1995, 1997, 2000 Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year Sean Cleary 2004, 2007, 2008 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Team Champions 2004, 2008 NCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Champion Megan Metcalfe

2002

NCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region Kaitlyn Gillespie 2010, 2011 Sarah-Anne Brault 2010, 2011 Ahna Lewis 2008, 2011 Kate Harrison 2008, 2009, 2011 Kaylyn Christopher 2008, 2009, 2011 Clara Grandt 2007, 2008, 2009 Marie-Louise Asselin 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Keri Bland 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Susan Davis 2004, 2005 Jennifer Davis 2004 Tara Struyk 2002, 2003, 2004 Megan Metcalfe 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 Merissa Sexsmith 1999, 2000

Rebecca Stallwood Karin Lockhart Kate Vermeulen Charity Wachera Nancy Knapp Francine Darroch

1999, 2000 1998, 2000 1998 1998 1998 1998

NCAA Team Qualifiers 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 Individual NCAA Qualifiers Kaitlyn Gillespie Sarah-Anne Brault Susan Davis Megan Metcalfe Tara Struyk Merissa Sexsmith Rebecca Stallwood Kate Vermeulen Charity Wachera Vicki Stum

2010 2010 2005 2002, 2003 2003 1999 1999 1998 1995, 1997 1990

NCAA Woman of the Year Rebecca Stallwood

2001

NCAA Elite 89 Award Ahna Lewis

2011

WVU at the NCAA Championship 1997 20th (485 points) 2000 21st (491 points) 2004 15th (388 points) 2007 9th (375 points) 2008 4th (198 points) 2009 6th (259 points) 2010 Gillespie (34th), Brault (71st) 2011 8th (297 points)

CONFERENCE HONORS Big East Team Champions 2007 Big East Freshman of the Year Megan Metcalfe

2000

Big East Women’s Cross Country Individual Champion Marie-Louise Asselin 2008 Big East Team Academic Excellence Award 2011 Big East Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Charity Wachera Ahna Lewis

1997 2011

All-Big East Kaitlyn Gillespie 2010, 2011 Sarah-Anne Brault 2011 Kate Harrison 2011 Marie-Louise Asselin 2007, 2008, 2009 Keri Bland 2007, 2008, 2009 Clara Grandt 2007, 2008, 2009 Susan Davis 2005 Tara Struyk 2002, 2003 Megan Metcalfe 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 Rebecca Stallwood 1999, 2000 Merissa Sexsmith 1999 Charity Wachera 1997 Atlantic 10 Team Champions 1994 Atlantic 10 Individual Champions Vicki Stum

1991

Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year Charity Wachera Heather Bury

1994 1993

All-Atlantic 10 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

Susan Davis 52 | West Virginia University

Charity Wachera, 2nd Carisa Brown, 5th Heather Bury, 7th Kerryn Davidson, 10th Kerryn Davidson 3rd Heather Bury, 5th Kerryn Davidson, 9th Vicki Stum, 1st Erin O’Reilly, 3rd Vicki Stum, 3rd

All-Americans Charity Wachera 1998 Charity Wachera was one of WVU’s best distance runners during her career. The Nairobi, Kenya, native earned All-America honors in the 10,000 meters with a sixthplace finish (34:29.64) at the 1998 NCAA outdoor championship. She also set two school records during her tenure. She ran a 16:27.27 in the 5,000 meters and a 34:24.00 in the 10,000 meters during the 1998 outdoor track season. Her mark in the 10,000m still stands today, while her mark in the 5,000 meter was broken by fellow All-American Rebecca Stallwood in 2001. In 1997, Wachera finished 11th with a time of 17:00 to become WVU’s first female cross country All-American.

Megan Metcalfe 2002, 2004 Megan Metcalfe, a nine-time All-American, is the most prolific distance runner in Mountaineer women’s track & field history and the first Mountaineer to achieve two All-America honors in cross country. The Edmonton, Alberta, native earned her first All-America accolade as a member of the 2001 distance medley relay team, which finished in eighth place. Metcalfe’s second All-America award, and first individual, came with a third-place finish in the 3,000-meter race at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships in a WVU record time of 9:09.95. Also an outstanding cross country runner, Metcalfe was named the 2000 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Her third All-America honor came with a ninth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Cross Country Championships, making her just the second female cross country All-American in school history and only the fourth Mountaineer to earn All-America honors in two sports. She earned her fourth and fifth All-America accolades in 2003 by finishing fourth in the 3,000-meters at the indoor championships and was a part of the school record setting distance medley relay team in that same meet. Her sixth and seventh awards came in March, 2004, when she was fifth in the 3,000-meters and again was a member of the DMR team. Metcalfe’s eighth and school-record setting All-America honor came at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships where she recorded a 16th place overall finish. Metcalfe capped off her brilliant career with a ninth All-America honor and a national championship when she won the 5,000-meters at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She also competed at the World Cross Country Championships twice during her tenure at WVU and competed at the World University Games in Turkey. In 2008, Metcalfe reached the top, as she ran in the 5,000-meter race for Canada in the Beijing Olympics.

2012 Cross Country

Marie-Louise Asselin 2007, 2008, 2009 Marie-Louise Asselin capped off her cross country career as one of the most decorated runners in WVU history. As of 2010, the Sarnia, Ontario, native owns seven All-America medals, including three in cross county and four in track. Asselin’s last cross country season, 2009, was one for the record books as she became one of only two WVU runners to earn three All-America honors in the sport. Along with teammate Keri Bland, Asselin achieved the honor as she finished in 31st place (20:43) at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The Mountaineers went on to finish sixth, marking the third-consecutive year that WVU finished in the top 10 at the national championships. Asselin also earned all-region honors for the fourth time in her career and all BIG EAST honors for the third time. Her success continued into the track season as she posted a second-place finish in the 5,000-meter race at the NCAA Indoor Championships (15:50.53) and a second-place finish in the 5,000 meter at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (15:53.93). In 2008, she led WVU to its most successful season in school history, as the Mountaineers took a historic fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, first at the NCAA allMid-Atlantic Regionals and second at the BIG EAST Championship. Asselin became the first BIG EAST Women’s Cross Country Individual Champion in 2008, as she took the top spot with a time of 20:10. She then placed 17th at the NCAA Championship race with a time of 20:27 to earn her second consecutive All-American honor. She earned her first All-American title in 2007 as the Mountaineers captured their first BIG EAST Championship and finished ninth in the country. Even though she was just a sophomore at the time, Asselin became WVU’s third All-American in the sport when she finished 17th (14th in the team standings) with a time of 20:39 at the 2007 NCAA Championship. It was a fitting ending to an outstanding season that saw her post the team’s highest finish in the final five meets. Asselin showed glimpses of her abilities just weeks earlier at the BIG EAST Championship where she took second and at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional race, where she placed third in leading her team to an overall second-place finish. Asselin, an all-BIG EAST and all-Mid-Atlantic region selection, was joined by Bland as an All-American, marking the first time in program history that two teammates earned the honor in the same season. In the 2008 indoor season, Asselin went on to place seventh in the 3,000-meter to earn All-America honors and was on the All-America distance medley relay team that took fourth at nationals.

Keri Bland 2007, 2008, 2009 Keri Bland, a seven-time All-American, continued to leave her name in the WVU record books as she aided the Mountaineers to a sixth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships, marking the third-straight year WVU finished in the nation’s top 10. Bland, along with teammate Marie-Louise Asselin, became the only Mountaineers in school history to earn All-America honors for three seasons in cross county, as she finished 34th (20:45). The Fairview, W.Va., native earned two All-America honors in the 2009 indoor track season, as she placed eighth in the mile and was a part of the distance medley relay team. Bland continued to dominate in the outdoor season, as she earned her fourth honor of the year by virtue of finishing as one of the top U.S. citizens in the 1,500-meter race, marking the second time she earned honors in all three seasons (cross county, indoor track and outdoor track). Bland was an essential part of the Mountaineers team in 2008, when she led WVU to its most successful season in school history as the squad placed fourth at the NCAA Championship, first at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals and second at the BIG EAST Championship. She was the first Mountaineer to finish at the NCAA Championship, where she finished 14th with a time of 20:20. In 2007, Bland and Asselin helped guide the Mountaineers to their first conference title and the highest finish at nationals in school history (ninth) in 2007. At nationals, Bland was the second Mountaineer to cross the line in 23rd at 20:58. Bland, along with Asselin, was named a first team All-American, marking the first time WVU’s cross country program had multiple All-Americans in the same year. Bland earned all-BIG EAST and all-Mid-Atlantic region accolades during the season after finishing fourth and seventh, respectively, in those races. In the 2008 indoor track season, Bland was a part of the All-America distance medley team that set a school record and placed fourth in the country. She finished the 2008 outdoor season by earning All-America honors in the 1,500-meters to become the first female in WVU history to earn All-America honors in three sports in the same year.

54 | West Virginia University

Clara Grandt 2009 Clara Grandt saved the best for last as she posted the finest season of her career and earned her first All-America honor in cross country. The West Union, W.Va., native led the team to a sixth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championship, the first Mountaineer to cross the line in 13th place overall. Grandt also earned all-region and all-BIG EAST honors and was named BIG EAST Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Sept. 24, for her efforts in the Midwest Open. There she crossed the line in 17:00.1, 19 seconds before Louisvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tarah McKay (17:19.4), for the fastest course time in over 20 years. In the track season, Grandt earned her second honor of the year by virtue of finishing as one of the top U.S. citizens in the 5,000-meter race at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. She then capped off her final season as a Mountaineer with a fourth-place showing in the 10,000-meter race at the outdoor championships, giving her four total All-America honors. Grandt became WVUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 24th track and field All-American as she earned the honors with a fourth-place showing in the 10,000-meter finals at the NCAA Championship in 2009. Grandt started off the race behind the lead pack before finding her stride around the 6,000-meter mark. The junior closed the gap, and finished with a time of 33:45.16.

Kaitlyn Gillespie 2010, 2011 The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, native continued to shine in her second year as a Mountaineer by earning all-conference, all-region and All-American honors for the second time of her career. As a junior, she placed seventh at the BIG EAST Championship in 20:14 and followed it with a seventh-place mark in 21:46 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. To earn All-America, she came in 27th place at the NCAA Championship with a 6k time of 20:17, improving in both placement and time from her 2010 NCAA finish. She was also named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team following the 2011 season. In her first season at WVU after one year at Cedarville University, Gillespie quickly made the successful jump to Division I competition in 2010 by earning AllAmerica, all-region and all-conference accolades. She became an All-American for the first time following her 34th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, where she finished the 6k course in 20:46. To earn all-Mid-Atlantic region and all-BIG EAST honors, Gillespie came in 10th place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional and the BIG EAST Championships, widely regarded as the most difficult regional and conference events in the nation. Before a 17th-place finish at the 2010 Penn State National, she had two first-place finishes at the BIG EAST Preview and Notre Dame Invitational.

2012 Cross Country

Kate Harrison 2011 A native of Toronto, Ontario, Kate Harrison ended a stellar WVU cross country career with one of the most impressive single-season resumes in school history. A fourtime NCAA participant, Harrison recorded the all-time program best finish at an NCAA Championship with an eighth-place mark, breaking Megan Metcalfeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2002 finish of ninth place at the event. She also finished the race with a career-best 6k time of 19:50 as she earned All-America for the first time in cross country. During the 2011 season, she was twice named the WVU Athlete of the Week and also earned All-BIG EAST and All-Mid-Atlantic region honors. To earn all-conference, the senior placed third in 19:52, and followed it with a fifth-place finish in 21:38 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional to earn all-region marks. She also excelled in academics as she was named to the 2011 USTFCCCA AllAcademic team.

WVU All-Americans Kaitlyn Gillespie (370) and Kate Harrison (372) 56 | West Virginia University

58..................... President Dr. James P. Clements 59....................... Director of Athletics Oliver Luck 60........................................ Athletics Senior Staff 61.......................................... WVU Head Coaches 62............................................... Athletic Facilities 63.............................................Media Information 64.......................... WVU Sports Communications

2012 Cross Country

James P. Clements, Ph.D. President Jim Clements is West Virginia University’s 23rd president. WVU is the flagship university of West Virginia, with an internationally diverse student body of more than 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students across approximately 200 degree programs in the University’s 13 constituent colleges, two divisional colleges, and multiple healthcare sites. Dr. Clements chairs the boards of the West Virginia United Health System, the WVU Hospitals, and the WVU Research Corporation. In total, WVU and its affiliates represent a $2.3 billion enterprise and employ more than 18,000 people. WVU and its affiliates are currently in the midst of more than $600 million of capital improvements. Regionally, he is a board member of the National Energy Technology Laboratory Regional University Alliance. He chairs the Implementation Committee of the Power of

32, a visioning initiative across 32 counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In the state, he recently co-chaired the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Diversity Initiative Council, and co-chaired the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s College Completion Task Force. In addition, he serves on the board of the West Virginia Business Roundtable. On a national level, he is active with national higher education organizations such as the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the American Council on Education (ACE). He is currently co-chair of the APLU Energy Forum and is the chair of the ACE Commission on Leadership. Dr. Clements was the only university president selected to join a 15-member Innovation Advisory Board to the U.S. Department of Commerce. He was also nominated and participated in the 81st Joint Civilian Orientation Conference through the U.S. Department of Defense. Before coming to WVU, Dr. Clements served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Towson University, the secondlargest public university in Maryland. Prior to becoming provost, he served as Towson’s vice president for economic and community

outreach, and as the Robert W. Deutsch Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences. Dr. Clements earned a B.S. in computer science and an M.S. and Ph.D. in operations analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), as well as an M.S. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University. The fourth edition of his project management textbook was published in four languages and used in multiple countries; the fifth edition was released in spring 2012. At WVU, Dr. Clements is a tenured professor in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. He is married to Beth Clements, and they have four children – Tyler, twin daughters Hannah and Maggie, and Grace.

WVU’s First Family, standing from left: Jim, Beth and Tyler Clements. In rockers, from left: twins Hannah and Maggie. Seated on lawn: Grace. 58 | West Virginia University

Oliver Luck Director of Athletics Successful at each of his previous career stops, Oliver Luck continues that streak at West Virginia University. A former Mountaineer quarterback, Luck, appointed the University’s 11th Director of Athletics by President James P. Clements on June 9, 2010, has made significant strides in his first two years to enhance WVU’s role as a major player in the collegiate world. In his first year, Luck hired four head coaches, while maintaining WVU’s superior level of success. In addition to new hires, Luck oversaw the progress of major capital projects, such as the $25 million WVU basketball practice facility for men’s and women’s basketball and the women’s soccer training complex. He also fostered an atmosphere for achievement and triumph in the classroom and on the field. In year two, Luck led WVU into the Big 12 Conference, oversaw the best fundraising year in school history, implemented several safety and crowd enhancements at Mountaineer sporting events, increased overall department revenue, continued a master plan for facility upgrades and watched his football program gain its third BCS bowl victory with a recordsetting 70-33 win in the Orange Bowl. Luck’s athletic and professional career has been the epitome of success, first as a recordsetting quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978-81, then as a professional quarterback for the National Football League’s Houston Oilers, and later as a professional sports executive. Luck’s journey to the big chair at WVU began in his native Cleveland, where in 1977 he was named the Cleveland Touchdown Club Player of the Year at St. Ignatius High. Luck chose WVU over Ivy League schools Harvard and Yale, embarking upon a career that saw him establish school records for touchdown passes and completions during his playing days, while also leading the Mountaineers to a 26-6 upset victory over Florida in the 1981 Peach Bowl. His best season came as a senior in 1981 when he completed 216 of 394 passes for 2,448 yards and 16 touchdowns. He passed for a career-high 360 yards in a 27-24 loss to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in the final regular-season game of his career. Luck ended his college career with 5,765 yards and 43 touchdown passes, both figures still ranking among the best in school history. Luck was a two-time team MVP in 1980 and

Oliver Luck was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American quarterback at WVU. 1981, and also received the Louis D. Meisel Award for the WVU football student-athlete with the highest grade point average. The two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American was the recipient of Today’s Top Five, presented for scholastics by the NCAA and was selected by the National Football Foundation as one of its 10 scholar-athletes to make a keynote speech at its annual banquet in 1982. Selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Houston Oilers (44th overall pick), Luck spent four years with the Oilers from 1982-86. His most extended action came in 1983 when he started six games and finished the season completing 124-of-217 passes for 1,375 yards and eight touchdowns. After retiring from football, Luck became vice president of business development for the NFL and later was appointed general manager of the Frankfurt Galaxy of the newly created World League of American Football. He spent the ’95 season as general manager of the Rhein Fire before being named President and CEO of NFL Europe in 1996. Luck totaled more than 10 years with the NFL, before becoming chief executive officer of the Harris CountyHouston Sports Authority in 2001. In that role, Luck oversaw the development and management of a $1 billion professional sports and entertainment complex for the city of Houston that included Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, Comets and Aeros and the Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 2005, Luck was appointed as the first president of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamos, helping that organization to a pair

2012 Cross Country

of MLS Cup titles in his first two years at the helm. Luck secured the funding for an $80 million soccer complex to house the Dynamos when the call came to return to his alma mater. BBVA Compass Stadium was built and opened in 2012 adding to Luck’s legacy with the professional soccer team, and the overall Houston sports facility complexes. He returned in May, 2012 for the opening ceremony of the soccer stadium that he fought so hard for. Prior to his current position at WVU, Luck was appointed by then Gov. Joe Manchin in 2008 to a four-year term on the West Virginia University Board of Governors, a spot he relinquished to become director of athletics. The Rhodes Scholar finalist graduated Phi Betta Kappa from WVU in 1982. He also earned a law degree from Texas, graduating cum laude in 1987. In 1997, Luck was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. ”It’s an incredible honor for me to be the athletic director at my alma mater,” said Luck. ”I care deeply about this school, and WVU is truly one of the outstanding land-grant universities in the country. I am so pleased to be a part of the leadership team assembled under President Clements at a dynamic and strategic time in its history.” He is married to the former Kathy Wilson. They have two sons and two daughters: Andrew, a former All-American quarterback and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Stanford and No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts; Mary Ellen, a junior volleyball player at Stanford; Emily, a freshman at Stanford and Addison, who attends Morgantown High.

Senior Staff Athletic Department Personnel Mike Parsons Deputy Director of Athletics

Michael Szul

Keli Cunningham

Terri Howes

Associate Athletic Director

Compliance/Governance

Sports Administration, SWA

Matt Borman

Michael Fragale

Associate Athletic Director Executive Director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club

Associate Athletic Director Business Operations

Assistant Athletic Director Communications

Curtis Jones

Matt Wells

Assistant Athletic Director

Academic Services

Marketing and Sales

60 | West Virginia University

Head Coaches WVU Fields 17 Varsity Sports Programs Jason Butts

Mike Carey

Women’s Soccer

Gymnastics

Women’s Basketball

Sean Cleary

Jon Hammond

Dana Holgorsen

Cross Country/Track

Rifle

Football

Bob Huggins

Jimmy King

Jill Kramer

Men’s Basketball

Rowing

Volleyball

Marlon LeBlanc

Randy Mazey

Men’s Soccer

Baseball

Vic Riggs

Tina Samara

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Nikki Izzo-Brown

Craig Turnbull Wrestling

2012 Cross Country

Athletic Facilities Train Like A Champion

Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium

Caperton Indoor Facility

Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium

Dreamswork Field

Cary Gym

WVU Wrestling Pavilion

Mountaineer Track

WVU Rifle Range

WVU Boathouse

WVU Coliseum

Basketball Practice Facility

WVU Natatorium

62 | West Virginia University

Receiving Information Media members may receive cross country press releases, notes and more via email. To receive such press releases, meet recaps and more, simply email your requests to abby.norman@mail.wvu.edu. WVUsports.com WVUsports.com is the place for media and fans to go for the latest on Mountaineer cross country. Player and coaching staff bios are available at the click of a finger by going to WVUsports.com. Updated following each game, WVUsports.com is your place to find the latest statistics for Mountaineer cross country. Not only will you find this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stats and stories, but you will also be able to find the WVU record book for some historical perspective.

Media Information What To Know When Covering WVU Media Services The West Virginia University sports communications office will be available throughout the entire 2012 cross country season to accommodate any media requests. Following are some guidelines that should make it easy for media members to cover the West Virginia cross country team. Any additional questions should be directed to cross country contact Abby Norman. During the Week Any member of the media wishing to interview a player or member of the coaching staff during the week should contact West Virginia cross country contact Abby Norman, via email (abby.norman@ mail.wvu.edu) or by phone (304-293-2821), at least 24 hours in advance. Cell phone numbers will not be made available and all WVU student-athletes have been instructed to not conduct interviews without prior approval of the sports communications staff.

2012 Cross Country

Directions to the WVU Agronomy Farm From I-68 Take the Pierpont Road (mile marker 7) exit. From there, go straight through the spotlight of the Glenmark Center intersection. Make the next right on to Old Cheat Road near the bottom of the hill. After about half a mile, Agronomy Farm Road will be on the left.

From I-79 Take Route 705 to the Mileground. Follow the Mileground to where it meets North 19 and turn right at the light. Old Cheat Road will be an immediate left. After about half a mile, Agronomy Farm Road will be on the left.

WVU Sports Communications Sports Information The West Virginia University sports communication office is located in the WVU Coliseum near the Red Gate in room 107. Additional offices are located on the second floor of the Coliseum in room 217. Mailing Address Sports Communications Office West Virginia University P.O. Box 0877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877 Overnight Shipping Address WVU Sports Communications 3450 Monongahela Blvd., Room 107 Morgantown, WV 26506

Cross Country Contact Abby Norman Sports Communications Graduate Assistant e-mail: abby.norman@mail.wvu.edu

Staff Michael Fragale Bryan Messerly Joe Swan John Antonik Mike Montoro Katie Kane Shannon McNamara Tim Goodenow Lisa Ammons Cheryl Maust Amy Prunty Eva Buchman Grant Dovey Abby Norman Brian Kuppelweiser

Assistant Athletic Director, Communications Sports Information Director Sports Publications Director Director of New Media Director of Football Communications Associate Sports Information Director Assistant Sports Information Director Assistant Sports Publications Director Business Manager Program Assistant Program Assistant Graduate Assistant Graduate Assistant Graduate Assistant Graduate Assistant

Phone Information Office: 304-293-2821 Fax: 304-293-4105 Press Box: 304-293-6480

64 | West Virginia University