2014 West Virginia University Cross Country Guide

Kelly Williams

Jillian Forsey

2014

Kaitlyn Gillespie

2014 CROSS COUNTRY

TABLE OF

Managing Editor Joe Swan Editor/Writer Nick Arthur Page Layout/Design Laura Doolittle, Provations Group Contributors Lisa Ammons, John Antonik, Matt Billman, Grant Dovey, DJ Jamiel, Brian McCracken, Shannon McNamara, Bryan Messerly Mike Montoro, Mackenzie Mullenax, Amy Prunty, Amy Salvatore, Samantha Strejeck, Sara Wells, Cheryl Wire Contributing Photographers All-Pro Photography

by Dale Sparks, M.G. Ellis, Dan Friend, Erin Irwin, Kirby Lee, Brian Persinger, Steve Prunty, Niesha Shafer, Raymond Thompson, WVU Athletic Communications Archives, WVU Photo Services, Megan Raymond, E.J. Linger and Nick Arthur © 2014 West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

Reproduction of any material appearing herein is prohibited without approval of the West Virginia University Intercollegiate Athletics.

In the Spotlight �������������������������������������������������� 2 A Championship Program ���������������������������������� 3 All-Americans ���������������������������������������������������� 4 Big 12 Conference �������������������������������������������� 6 Athletic Training ������������������������������������������������ 8 Strength and Conditioning �������������������������������� 10 Community Service ������������������������������������������ 11 Student-Athlete Support ���������������������������������� 12 Campus Life ���������������������������������������������������� 16 Mountaineer Excellence ���������������������������������� 20

Coaching Staff Sean Cleary ���������������������������������������������������� 24 Erin O’Reilly ���������������������������������������������������� 28 Support Staff �������������������������������������������������� 28

Mountaineer Profiles 2014 Rosters �������������������������������������������������� 30 Kaitlyn Gillespie ���������������������������������������������� 31 Lydia Martinelli ������������������������������������������������ 32 Savanna Plombon �������������������������������������������� 33 Sarah McCauley ���������������������������������������������� 34 Sydney Scott ��������������������������������������������������� 35 Paige Szabat ���������������������������������������������������� 36 Kelly Williams �������������������������������������������������� 37 Megan Yuan ���������������������������������������������������� 38 Amy Cashin ���������������������������������������������������� 39 Alyssa Diehl ���������������������������������������������������� 39 Maggie Drazba ������������������������������������������������ 40 Rachel Faulds �������������������������������������������������� 40 Jillian Forsey ��������������������������������������������������� 41

Peyton Hampson ���������������������������������������������� 42 Brynn Harshbarger ������������������������������������������ 42 Brianna Kerekes ���������������������������������������������� 43 Corinne Kule ���������������������������������������������������� 43 Allison Lasnicki ������������������������������������������������ 44 Renée Massionneuve �������������������������������������� 45 Millie Paladino ������������������������������������������������ 46 Rebecca Wendt ������������������������������������������������ 46

2014 Preview A Look at 2014 ������������������������������������������������ 48 Q&A With Coach Cleary ������������������������������������ 50 Schedule and Host Information ������������������������ 52

2013 Review A Look Back at 2013 �������������������������������������� 54 2013 Results �������������������������������������������������� 55 Meet-by-Meet Breakdown ������������������������������ 56 Individual Times ���������������������������������������������� 58 Accolades �������������������������������������������������������� 58

Record Book NCAA Honors �������������������������������������������������� 60 Conference Honors ������������������������������������������ 60 All-Americans �������������������������������������������������� 61

West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee ���������������������������������� 66 Director of Athletics Oliver Luck ���������������������� 67 Senior Staff/Head Coaches ������������������������������ 68 Media Information �������������������������������������������� 69 Athletic Facilities ���������������������������������������������� 70

Mountaineer Cross Country

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action institution. The indicia depicted are registered trademarks of West Virginia University.

Contents

1

Mountaineer Cross Country

Spotlight

IN THE

■■ 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.

■■ 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.

2

Program

A CHAMPIONSHIP

■■ In

eight 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, first at the Mid-Atlantic Regional and Asselin became the first runner to earn the individual title at the Big East Championships.

■■ Asselin

and Keri Bland became the first three-time All-Americans in cross country in 2009 after leading the team to a sixth place finish and finishing the race in 31st and 34th place, respectively.

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 four out of the last seven years and had 12 All-Americans selected from the program.

■■ The

Mountaineers have qualified for the NCAA Championships every season but one under the direction of Cleary.

Mountaineer Cross Country

■■ Kate

3

Mountaineer Cross Country

BIG 12

Conference

■■ The

Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 institutions and many of them share traditional rivalries throughout their histories.

■■ The

■■ Member

■■ Since

universities include – Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

6

Big 12 is a strong conference that, like WVU, values quality academic and athletic programs, and has a great tradition of success.

2000, the Big 12 has had nine individual champions in cross country.

■■ The

conference office is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Mountaineer Cross Country

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Training

ATHLETIC ■■ The

West Virginia athletic training program looks to get its studentathletes 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 studentathletes receive quality care throughout their careers at WVU.

8

STRENGTH AND

Conditioning

■■ WVU’s

strength and conditioning staff ensures all studentathletes 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.

■■ All

student-athletes also will have their own program individually calculated and updated throughout the year.

■■ 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.

■■ With

cross country, special attention is paid to certain strengths and weaknesses that a distance runner has.

■■ The

cross country runners spend a great deal of time on specific dynamics like speed drills and strength and conditioning exercises so that when the team gets on the course, not only are they the fittest in the race, but also the strongest.

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IN THE ■■ Winning

Community

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

Mountaineers are frequent visitors to the WVU Children’s Hospital and help several different local community service projects.

■■ 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 student-athletes 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.

Mountaineer Cross Country

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Support

STUDENT-ATHLETE

■■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 10 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.

■■A

total of 340 student-athletes were recognized for their achievement in the classroom last spring, at the annual WVU Student-Athlete Academic Excellence Banquet, honoring recipients of the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.

Implemented in 1989, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll was created to recognize students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Since the program began in 1989, nearly 4,000 student-athletes have earned a place on the honor roll. Ford retired in 2011 after 44 years of service with the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

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Support

STUDENT-ATHLETE

■■ West

Virginia University’s graduation rate for studentathletes 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.

■■ 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 studentathletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

Mountaineer Cross Country

West Virginia University women’s cross country team, men’s basketball team and women’s soccer team received public recognition in the spring of 2010 by the NCAA for their latest multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport. The women’s cross country team was one of seven Mountaineer teams to earn a perfect APR score in 2011-12 alone. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.

■■ The

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Life

CAMPUS

Character

Location

Public, land-grant institution, founded in 1867.

Morgantown, W.Va., population 30,293, 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; 13th “Best College Town in America,” Business Insider; 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.

Research Classification Research University (High Research Activity) as classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Research Funding WVU’s three-year average (2011-13) in total sponsored projects and land-grants: $157,984,965.

WVU System Operating Budget Will top $1 billion (2014).

Accreditations North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and dozens of specialized academic accrediting agencies.

Governance The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.

16

Student Profile Fall 2013 enrollment, on WVU campuses statewide, was 32,348; 29,466 in Morgantown.

That included: ■■ 14,489 West Virginia residents, 14,977 nonresidents ■■ 22,757 undergraduates ■■ 5,077 graduate and 1,632 professional students

Academics

Academic Excellence WVU ranks nationally for prestigious scholarships—24 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 39 Goldwater Scholars, 2 British Marshall Scholars, 3 Morris K. Udall Scholars, 5 USA Today AllUSA College Academic First Team Members (and 11 academic team honorees), 36 Fulbright Scholars, 9 Boren Scholars, 7 Gilman Scholars, and 3 Department of Homeland Security Scholars.

Degrees Granted In 2012-2013, WVU awarded 6,267 degrees; 1,765 graduate and 424 professional.

Faculty and Staff Profile

Student Living Experience The First-Year Experience helps students navigate their first year at WVU. Elements include residential colleges 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; and the Mountaineer Parents Club, helping families stay connected with their students’ education and life at WVU. apply.wvu.edu/life

Freshman Class Profile 2013 average ACT of 23.6, SAT (math and critical reading) 1052, and high school GPA of 3.39.

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Mountaineer Cross Country

Excellent faculty—18 of whom have been named Carnegie Foundation Professors of the Year—guide and mentor students. instructional faculty: 2,361 graduate assistants: 1,725 total main campus employees: 8,346 total WVU System employees: 8,846

15 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; education and human services; engineering and mineral resources; law; media; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; physical activity and sport sciences; public health; plus the WVU Honors College, University College, and programs at Potomac State College and WVU Institute of Technology. wvu.edu/Academics/

17

Transportation

Academic Innovation

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 Mountain Line bus service offers free rides to students and employees.

WVU ID is required for all services. transportation.wvu.edu/services

Hundreds of distance education classes are available. elearn.wvu.edu/

Safety WVU has one of the safest college campuses in America, with 24hour police protection and 37 outdoor emergency phones. The WVU Alert system sends urgent news to participants’ cell phones, and digital InfoStations across campus show important announcements.

Student Organizations Students can choose from more than 400 student organizations, and participate in an active intramural program and many club sports. sos.wvu.edu

Study Abroad Last year, WVU students traveled to over 60 nations around the world in University-led study abroad programs and international exchanges. internationalprograms.wvu.edu/

18

Civic Engagement The Center for Service and Learning develops and organizes service learning and volunteer opportunities for students and faculty and consults with academic units on incorporating civic engagement into the curriculum. WVU has earned the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification, putting WVU in the 6% of higher education institutions that Carnegie recognizes for engagement. service.wvu.edu/

Scholarships and Aid Each year, WVU awards over $5 million in scholarships to over 2,500 students from West Virginia and around the nation. There are many different types of scholarships available based on academic record, financial need, group affiliation, or some combination of these factors. In 2012-13, over $395 million in financial aid was given out. The average financial package was $11,622. West Virginia residents may be eligible for the PROMISE scholarship in addition to WVU awards.

Life

CAMPUS

Honors College

Parents Club

The WVU Honors College encourages a style of learning and living at WVU that is tailored to the highly motivated, excelling student’s special requirements. Innovative, challenging courses, designed to stimulate creativity and to provoke in-depth discussion, are offered in small class settings. Students may participate as Presidential Honors Scholars or Dean’s Honors Scholars; both options provide enhanced experiences. /honors.wvu.edu/

The Mountaineer Parents Club, with more than 22,000 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. parentsclub.wvu.edu

University College:

Internships WVU offers hundreds of ways to gain valuable on-the-job experience and networking contacts. careerservices.wvu.edu/

A member of the NCAA, WVU competes in the Big 12 Conference at the Division I level in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports. Teams make regular post-season bowl appearances in football, including winning the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl and NCAA tournament appearances in men’s and women’s basketball, including a Final 4 appearance in men’s basketball in 2010; in 2014, women’s basketball was the Big 12 champion and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The WVU rifle team won its 16th national title in 2014 and was the first WVU athletic team to visit the White House on NCAA Champions Day. wvusports.com WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

Mountaineer Cross Country

The new University College is a home base for exploratory students, general studies students, nontraditional students, the Firstyear Experience, McNair Scholars, and undergraduate research opportunities. It focuses on academic and career advising, with the goal of guiding students to a major by sophomore year.

Athletics

19

More than 225 WVU Student-Athletes were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, including 239 last fall

Excellence

MOUNTAINEER Team Records 28-26, 9-14 Big 12 Country: 2nd at Big 12 Championships; 24th at NCAAs ■■ Men’s Basketball: 17-16, 9-9 Big 12; NIT First Round ■■ Women’s Basketball: 30-5, 16-2 Big 12; Big 12 Regular-Season Champions; NCAA Second Round ■■ Football: 4-8, 2-7 Big 12 ■■ Gymnastics: 6-11, 0-4 Big 12 ■■ Rowing: 10th at Conference USA Championship ■■ Men’s Soccer: 7-75, 2-2-2 MAC ■■ Women’s Soccer: 16-4-3, 7-1 Big 12; Big 12 Regular-Season and Tournament Champions; NCAA Second Round ■■ Baseball: ■■ Cross

20

■■ Men’s

Swimming and Diving: 3rd Big 12 (6 NCAA Qualifiers: 1 Diver and 5 swimmers) ■■ Women’s Swimming and Diving: 5th Big 12 (5 NCAA Qualifiers: 4 Divers and 1 swimmer) ■■ Rifle: 10-0, 7-0 GARC; GARC Regular-Season and Tournament Champions; NCAA Champions ■■ Women’s Tennis: 3-18, 0-10, Big 12 ■■ Women’s Track: Indoor-10th Big 12; Outdoor-9th Big 12 ■■ Volleyball: 20-13, 5-11 Big 12 ■■ Wrestling: 11-7, 0-3 Big 12; 4th at Big 12 Tournament (five NCAA Qualifiers)

National Champions ■■ Rifle

Capital One Academic All-Americans ■■ Andy

Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-America First Team ■■ Frances Silva, Women’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-America First Team; Capital ■■ One Academic All-America of the Year for NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer

Capital One Academic All-District ■■ Andy

Bevin, Men’s Soccer Gulick, Volleyball ■■ Amanda Hill, Women’s Soccer ■■ Thomas Kyanko, Rifle ■■ Frances Silva, Women’s Soccer ■■ Haily VandePoel, Swimming and Diving ■■ Liz

■■ Women’s

Basketball, Big 12 Regular Season ■■ Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Regular Season and Tournament Champions ■■ Rifle, GARC Postseason Champions

First Team All-Americans ■■ Bryce

Bohman, Swimming, College Swimming Coaches Association of America ■■ Ziva Dvorsak, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle All-American ■■ Stormy Nesbit, Outdoor Track, Triple Jump

■■ Maren

Prediger, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle All-American ■■ Garrett Spurgeon, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle All-American, NRA Smallbore All-American, ■■ CRCA All-American

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Mountaineer Cross Country

Team Conference Champions

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Senior Sarah Martinelli garnered multiple athletic and academic accolades in 2013.

For her efforts on the field and in the classroom, the Morgantown, West Virginia, native was named the Big 12 Women’s

Excellence

Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year.

MOUNTAINEER

Second Team All-Americans ■■ Kadeisha

Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, NSCAA/Continental Tire ■■ Meelis Kiisk, Rifle, NRA Smallbore, NRA Air Rifle ■■ Thomas Kyanko, Rifle, NRA Smallbore ■■ Sarah Martinelli, Outdoor Track, 3,000-meter steeplechase ■■ Maren Prediger, Rifle, CRCA All-American ■■ Frances Silva, Women’s Soccer, NSCAA/Continental Tire ■■ Daniel Sojka, Rifle, NRA Smallbore ■■ Patrick Sunderman, Rifle, NRA Smallbore

Third Team All-Americans ■■ Meelis

Kiisk, Rifle, CRCA All-American Lasnicki, Outdoor Track, 10,000 meters

■■ Allison

Conference Major Awards ■■ Bryce

Bohman, Swimming, Big 12 Swimmer of the Year ■■ Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year; Big 12 ■■ Newcomer of the Year; Big 12 Tournament Defensive MVP ■■ Taylor Palmer, Women’s Basketball, Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year

22

■■ Frances

Silva, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (Unanimous); Big ■■ 12 Tournament Offensive MVP ■■ Charles Sims, Football, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year ■■ Tim Squires, Big 12 Championship Men’s Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet

First Team All-Conference ■■ Andy

Bevin, Men’s Soccer Bohman, Swimming and Diving (100 Back and 200 Back) ■■ Bobby Boyd, Baseball ■■ Christopher Brill, Swimming and Diving ■■ Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer ■■ Eva Burlingham, Swimming and Diving ■■ Asya Bussie, Women’s Basketball ■■ Nate Carr, Swimming and Diving ■■ Ross Glegg, Swimming and Diving ■■ Bria Holmes, Women’s Basketball ■■ Ashley Lawrence, Women’s Soccer ■■ Sarah Martinelli, Cross Country ■■ Liam McLaughlin, Swimming and Diving ■■ Julie Ogden, Swimming and Diving ■■ Majed Osman, Men’s Soccer ■■ Maren Prediger, Rifle (Air Rifle) ■■ Jake Querciagrossa, Swimming and Diving (200 IM and 400 IM) ■■ Bryce

■■ Courtney

Schrand, Rowing, Big 12 and Conference USA ■■ Kate Schwindel, Women’s Soccer ■■ Charles Sims, Football ■■ Frances Silva, Women’s Soccer ■■ Hope Sloanhoffer, Gymnastics ■■ Garrett Spurgeon, Rifle (All-GARC Smallbore, Air Rifle and combined score) ■■ Tim Squires, Swimming and Diving ■■ Juwan Staten, Men’s Basketball

NCAA Team Qualifiers ■■ Cross

Country

■■ Rifle ■■ Women’s

Basketball

66 All-Conference Selections 12 All-Region Selections 20 NCAA Individual Qualifiers 108 Academic All-Conference Selections Three Team Academic Award Winners (Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer and Rifle) 496 Student-athletes on the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and 446 student-athletes on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Coaching Staff

SEAN CLEARY Coaching Experience ■■ West Virginia University, 1993-Present ■■ Eighth season as head coach ■■ Four Top-10 NCAA finishes from 2007-2011 ■■ Coached an All-Big 12 honoree each of the last two seasons ■■ 2011 NCAA Cross Country Championship eighth-place finish ■■ 2010 All-American Kaitlyn Gillespie ■■ 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship sixth-place finish ■■ 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championship fourth-place finish ■■ 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championship ninth-place finish ■■ 13 All-America selections from seven individuals

24

■■ At

least one All-American selection in five of the last seven seasons ■■ 24 NCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors from 10 runners ■■ 13 All-Big East honors from six runners ■■ Two CoSIDA Academic AllAmericans in cross country ■■ 1,000 NCAA APR score four consecutive years ■■ Coached 2011 NCAA Elite 89 Award winner Ahna Lewis ■■ Coached two cross country runners to three career All-America honors – Marie-Louise Asselin and Keri Bland ■■ Saw highest ever school ranking at No. 3 Oct. 6, 2009 ■■ Coached 2008 Big East Individual Champion – Marie-Louise Asselin

■■ Three

Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year honors (2004, 2007, 2008) ■■ NCAA Mid-Atlantic team champions (2004, 2008) ■■ 2007 Big East Champions ■■ 2007 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year ■■ No. 5 on the 2010 Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award list in 2010 Running Experience ■■ West Virginia University, 1991-92 ■■ Captain of 1991 Atlantic 10 title team ■■ Earned all-conference honors in 1992 Education ■■ West Virginia University ■■ Bachelor’s degree (physical education) 1992

Sean Cleary CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD COACH EIGHTH SEASON | 23RD WITH PROGRAM

Sean Cleary, one of the sport’s most talented coaches, is in his eighth 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 built West Virginia’s cross country program into a national powerhouse with seven All-Americans and numerous all-conference runners.

For Cleary, 2013 proved to be quite the eventful year. Prior to the start of the 2013 cross country season, Cleary was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) President for Division I Cross Country. In the fall, Cleary guided the Mountaineers to their sixth NCAA appearance in seven seasons under his direction. West Virginia posted a second-place result at the Big 12 Championships, while senior Sarah Martinelli went on to claim All-Big 12 and All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors.

Cleary used the 2012 season to build on his cornerstone of competing and winning at the highest level as the team entered a new era in the Big 12 Conference. Sarah-Anne Brault returned from training for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London for her final season as a Mountaineer by running in her fourth consecutive NCAA Championship. On the way, Brault garnered all-conference honors for the second time in her career, all-region honors for the third time and finished her career by becoming the 13th runner in program history to individually qualify for the NCAA Championship.

The Mountaineers finished No. 8 in the country in 2011 at the NCAA Championship – their fourth top-10 national finish in five years. His team finished in fourth place at the Big East Championship and followed it with a third-place 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.

The 2009-10 season was equally successful as the team achieved

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 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 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 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.

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

Coaching Staff

In 2010, Cleary sent Gillespie and 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.

sixth place at the NCAA Championship, its third straight top-10 finish, and Clara Grandt, Keri Bland and Marie-Louise Asselin earned 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 honors were given to WVU athletes between cross country, indoor and outdoor track during the year.

25

Coaching Staff

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.

Recent Successes Under Cleary Six NCAA qualifications in the last seven seasons

Three all-region and one all-

conference runner in 2011

Four top-10

finishes from 2007-2012

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 Atlantic Region runners

2009 Five All-Mid2009 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

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Kate Harrison

2011 All-American Eighth place at 2011 NCAA Championship, best individual finish at nationals in school history, beating Megan Metcalfe’s 2002 record of ninth place ■■ Four-time NCAA Championship participant ■■ 2011 All-Big East Team ■■ Three-time All-Mid-Atlantic region (2008, 09, 11) ■■ Named to 2011 USTFCCCA All-Academic team ■■ ■■

Kaitlyn Gillespie

Two-time All-American (2010-11) 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) ■■ ■■

Cleary, who holds a USATF Level I Certification, is the primary recruiter for the cross country squad, attracting the best in-state, out-of-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. They have one son, Patrick Nolan Cleary, who was born on April 30, 2014.

Keri Bland

2011 All-American (indoor, outdoor 1,500 meters) ■■ 2011 Academic AllAmerican third team ■■ 2007-08 and 2009-10 AllAmerican in all three sports ■■ 2009 Cross country All-American ■■ 2009 All-Big East team ■■ 2009 All-Mid-Atlantic team ■■ 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 team ■■ 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team ■■ 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 ■■

Marie-Louise Asselin

Clara Grandt

2013 Pittsburgh Marathon winner 2009 cross country All-American ■■ 2009 All-Big East team ■■ 2009 All-Mid-Atlantic team ■■ 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 team ■■ 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region team ■■ ■■

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

Coaching Staff

2007-10 All-American in three sports (Cross County, Indoor and Outdoor Track) ■■ 2009 Cross Country All-American ■■ 2009 All-Big East team ■■ 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 team ■■ 2008 All-Mid-Atlantic Region team ■■ 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team ■■ 2007 Seventh place in the 3,000-meter race at NCAA Track and Field Championships ■■ 2007 3,000-meter Big East indoor track and field champion ■■ 2007 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team ■■

27

Coaching Staff

Erin O’Reilly CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD ASSISTANT COACH | SECOND SEASON

Erin O’Reilly is in her

the A-10 All-Conference Team. She was the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) champion and a NCAA provisional qualifier in the 1,000 meters her senior year. She held seven school records in cross country and track by the end of her career.

second season as an assistant coach with West Virginia University after joining the staff in August 2013.

The Canton, Ohio, native served as a member of Cleary’s staff from 1994-2002. During that time, the Mountaineers registered 22 All-America honors and 13 Mid-Atlantic Region distinctions in cross country and track combined.

During her first season with the Mountaineers, O’Reilly oversaw WVU’s sixth NCAA qualification in the last seven seasons.

She also helped three Mountaineers to All-Mid-Atlantic Region distinctions and one Mountaineer to All-Big 12 recognition.

O’Reilly was a member of the Mountaineer team in the early 1990s and graduated from WVU in 1993 with a degree in physical education.

As a runner, she garnered many accolades, while also serving as a team captain for cross country and track. O’Reilly finished third at the Atlantic 10 Championships as a junior and was named to

In 2003, O’Reilly joined the Boston College coaching staff as an assistant and held the position for 10 seasons. While on staff, she helped guide the Golden Eagles to multiple ECAC titles and numerous appearances at the NCAA Championships.

O’Reilly earned her master’s degree in athletic coaching education from WVU in 2004.

Staff

Tanner KOLB

Strength Coach

Amy HILE

Athletic Trainer

Sandy COLE-DEMENT Educational Counselor

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Nick ARTHUR

Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Dr. Matt LIVELY Medical Director

Bubba SCHMIDT

Equipment Manager

Ilora CIPOLAT

Administrative Assistant

Scott HERDZIK

Assistant Equipment Manager

Cindy SMITH

Administrative Assistant

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Roster

2014 ROSTER Name Amy Cashin Allie Diehl Drazba Rachel Faulds Jillian Forsey Kaitlyn Gillespie Peyton Hampson Brynn Harshbarger Brianna Kerekes Corinne Kule Allison Lasnicki Renee Maisonneuve Lydia Martinelli Sarah McCauley Millie Paladino Savanna Plombon Sydney Scott Paige Szabat Rebecca Wendt Kelly Williams Megan Yuan

Yr. So. r-Fr r-Fr. r-Fr. So. r-Sr. So. r-Fr. So. r-Fr. r-Sr. r-Fr. Sr.. r-Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. r-So. r-Fr. r-Jr. Jr.

Roster

By State/Province Australia ����������������������������������1 Colorado ��������������������������������1 Maryland ��������������������������������1 Newfoundland and Labrador ��1 New York ��������������������������������1 Ohio ����������������������������������������5 Ontario ������������������������������������4 Pennsylvania ��������������������������1 West Virginia ����������������������������6

By Class Freshmen ��������������������������������8 Sophomores ����������������������������5 Juniors ������������������������������������4 Seniors ������������������������������������4

Pronunciation Guide

Last Names Gillespie �����������������������Gill-espy McCauley ��������������� Mc-Caw-lee Drazba ��������������������� drawz-buh Forsey �������������������������� For-see Kerekes ��������������������� Ker-reeks Lasnicki ������������������Laz-nick-ee Maisonneuve �������� Mason-noov Paladino �������������Pal-uh-DEE-no Plombon �����������������Plaum-Baun Szabat �������������������������� ZAH-bit Wendt ������������������������������Went Yuan ����������������������������������Yawn

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Ht. 5-5 5-4 5-1 5-3 5-4 5-2 5-8 5-2 5-5 5-4 5-6 5-3 4-11 5-4 5-0 5-8 5-3 5-3 5-10 5-9 5-8

Hometown High School / Last School Werribee, Australia Werribee Secondary College Chardon, Ohio Maggie St. Marys, W.Va. St. Marys Frankford, Ontario Trenton Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador Stephenville Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Cedarville University Waynesburg, Pa. Waynesburg Central Morgantown, W.Va. Morgantown Morgantown, W.Va. Trinity Christian Chardon, Ohio Chardon Canastota, N.Y. Connecticut Timmins, Ontario Ecole secondaire catholique Theriault Morgantown, W.Va. University Belington, W.Va. Philip Barbour Morgantown, W.Va. University Frederick, Md. Lehigh Denver, Colo.

South Wadsworth, Ohio Wadsworth Whitby, Ontario Henry Street Chesterland, Ohio West Geauga Thunder Bay, Ontario St. Ignatius Secondary

Kaitlyn

Gillespie 5-2, SENIOR | CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Medical redshirt ■■ 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country First Team 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 seventh-place 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) ■■ 2011 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s Cross Country All-Academic 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 10thplace 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 At Cedarville 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 Championship

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal ■■ Daughter of Jim and Diane Gillespie ■■ Has one brother and a sister ■■ Birthday is June 28 ■■ Majoring in exercise physiology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Big East Academic All-Star ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Dean’s List

KAITLYN GILLESPIE

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

31

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES LYDIA MARTINELLI

Lydia

Martinelli 4-11, SENIOR | MORGANTOWN, W.VA.

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Second Mountaineer to cross the finish line at the PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept 13.

■■ Recorded a 25th-place finish at the Spiked Shoe with a time 23:31 At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Did not compete At West Virginia in 2011 ■■ Did not compete At West Virginia in 2010 ■■ Redshirted ■■ Ran unattached at the WVU Invitational, finishing eighth overall in 16:19 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 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Big East Academic All-Star ■■ Majoring in secondary education ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

32

Savanna

Plombon 5-8, SENIOR | FREDERICK, MD.

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 First Team ■■ Recorded a 90th-place finish in season debut at Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa., on Oct. 5, with a time of 21:44 ■■ Fifth overall runner across the line at the PSU National on Oct. 18 with a time of 21:47 ■■ Second Mountaineer across the line at the Big 12 Championships, finishing in 21st place overall with a time of 21:25.5 ■■ Finished in 26th place overall at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional meet with a personal-best time of 20:54, missing out on the all-region team by one spot.

■■ Sixth WVU runner to cross the line at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23.

At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ The first WVU runner across the line at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational by finishing 14th with a 6k time of 22:07 ■■ Came in 10th place in the Blue Race at the Greater Louisville Classic with a 5k time of 18:05.27 ■■ Ran a season-best 6k time of 21:34 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional for a 27th-place finish 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

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal ■■ Daughter of Daniel and Tama Plombon ■■ Has one brother ■■ Birthday is June 18 ■■ Majoring in biology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

SAVANNA PLOMBON

Prep ■■ Ran for coach Nicholas Snyder at Thomas Johnson High ■■ 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

33

SARAH McCAULEY

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Sarah

McCauley

5-4, JUNIOR | BELINGTON, W.VA. At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Recorded a 48th-place finish (23:33) at the PSU National on Oct. 18 in her only action of the season At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Ran in only one race for the Mountaineers at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational where she finished 40th with a 6k time of 22:55 At West Virginia in 2011: ■■ Redshirted 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

Personal ■■ Daughter of George and Robin McCauley ■■ Has one brother ■■ Birthday is Nov. 29 ■■ Majoring in pre-dental hygiene

34

Sydney

Scott

5-3, JUNIOR | DENVER, COLO. At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Took top honors in her first race as a Mountaineer by finishing the WVU Alumni Open with a 4k time of 15:09 ■■ Topped her 4k time with a 14:00.4 performance at the Toledo Inter-Regional Bubble Buster ■■ Finished the NCAA Pre-Nationals Black Race with a 6k time of 24:03.2 ■■ Came in 26th at the Big 12 Championship with a 6k time of 21:42.6 ■■ Earned NCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honors after finishing 24th with a season-best 6k time of 21:21 ■■ Member of Team USA for the World Junior Cross Country Championships, where she placed 38th with a 6k time 20:19 ■■ 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal ■■ Daughter of Andy and Martha Scott and Cathy Scott ■■ Has one sister ■■ Birthday is July 21 ■■ Majoring in music performance ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

SYDNEY SCOTT

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

35

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES PAIGE SZABAT

Paige

Szabat

5-3, SOPHOMORE | WADSWORTH, OHIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 First Team ■■ Only Mountaineer runner to compete in all meets in 2013 ■■ Throughout the season made improvements of 2:07 to her 6k time ■■ First Mountaineer to cross the line in season opener at Lehigh Invitational, finishing in 10th place with a time of 23:41 ■■ First WVU runner to finish race at PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept 13, completing the course in 22:44 ■■ Recorded a 166th place finish (22:23) at the Paul Short Run on Oct. 5 in Bethlehem, Pa. ■■ Finished in 14th place overall at the PSU National on Oct. 18, with a time of 22:19 ■■ Fifth Mountaineer and 27th runner overall to cross the line at the Big 12 Championships on Nov. 2, with a time of 21:35.5 ■■ Posted a 61st-place finish at the NCAA MidAtlantic Regional, completing the course with a personal-best time of 21:34 ■■ Competed at NCAA Cross Country Championships, coming in 202nd place with a time of 22:05.5 At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Competed at the WVU Alumni Open where she came in eighth with a 4k time of 15:51 Prep ■■ Ran for coach Michelle Farr and was captain at Wadsworth High ■■ 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 Personal ■■ Daughter of Raymond and Carol Szabat ■■ Birthday is Dec. 10 ■■ Dad played soccer at Akron from 1980-83 ■■ Majoring in pre-biochemistry ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

36

Kelly

Williams 5-9, JUNIOR | CHESTERLAND, OHIO

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 First Team ■■ Named to All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team following a 21st-place finish at the NCAA Regional Meet on Nov. 15, in Bethlehem, Pa. ■■ Recorded a 75th-place finish at the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa., on Oct. 5, with a time of 21:37 ■■ First Mountaineer and second runner overall to cross the line at the PSU National on Oct. 18, while helping West Virginia to a first-place finish with a time of 21:22 ■■ Came in 24th (21:32.7) at the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 2.

■■ First WVU runner across the line at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Nov. 15, in Bethlehem, Pa., posting a personal-best time of 20:49 ■■ Second Mountaineer to complete course at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind, on Nov. 23 At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ First year running cross country ■■ Competed in every meet for the Mountaineers, starting with the WVU Alumni Open where she finished fourth overall with a 4k time of 15:27 ■■ Came in 28th at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational with a 6k time of 22:29 ■■ One of only five runners for WVU at the Toledo Inter-Regional Bubble Buster where she posted a personal-best 4k time of 14:20.3 ■■ Finished 12th in the Blue Race at the Greater Louisville Classic with a personal-best 5k time of 18:14.79 ■■ Ran a 22:10.2 6k at the NCAA Pre-Nationals ■■ Second runner across the line for WVU at the Big 12 Championship where she finished 19th overall with a 6k time of 21:37.9 ■■ Earned NCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honors with a 22nd-place finish and a personal-best 6k time of 21:20 ■■ 2012 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s Cross Country All-Academic ■■ 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country First Team

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal: ■■ Daughter of Wayne and Beth Williams ■■ Older sister, Katelyn, is a former AllAmerican high jumper at WVU ■■ Has two brothers and a sister ■■ Birthday is Aug. 7 ■■ Majoring in human nutrition and foods ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Dean’s List

KELLY WILLIAMS

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

37

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES MEGAN YUAN

Megan

Yuan

5-8, JUNIOR | THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Finished 53rd (22:22.4) at the Big 12 Championships in her first appearance of the season on Nov 2.

■■ Cut 1:16 off her time in her next outing, coming in 30th (21:06) at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Nov 15, in Bethlehem, pa.

■■ Competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing in 233rd place overall with a time of 22:28.8

At West Virginia in 2012 ■■ Came in seventh at the WVU Alumni Open with a 4k time of 15:48 ■■ Competed at the Greater Louisville Classic where she finished 58th in the Blue Races with a 5k time of 18:54.66 ■■ Finished 115th in the Black Race at the NCAA Pre-Nationals with a 6k time of 23:06.4 ■■ 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team Prep ■■ Ran at St. Ignatius High ■■ 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 in the 2011 AO Youth Cross Country Championships in the 1,500-meter run Personal ■■ Daughter of Mike and Sue Yuan ■■ Has two brothers ■■ Birthday is Feb. 9 ■■ Majoring in sports psychology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Rollw

38

■■ Finished

in 40th place at the conference meet with a time of 21:51.3 ■■ Came in 63rd at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Nov. 15 in Bethlehem, Pa., with a personal-best time of 21:35 ■■ Fourth Mountaineer across the line at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Ind., with a time of 22:03.8

AMY CASHIN

5-5, SOPHOMORE WERRIBEE, AUSTRALIA

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team ■■ Sixth Mountaineer to cross the line in her first appearance of the season at the Big 12 Championships on Nov 2.

Amy CASHIN

Prep ■■ Captain at Werribee Secondary College for coach Peter Burke ■■ Member of Team Australia for the World Junior Cross Country Championships, where she placed 50th with a 6k time of 20:48 ■■ 2013 Victoria State U-20 champion in the 1,500 meter-run ■■ Silver Medalist at the 6k U-20 Australia Cross Country Championships ■■ Part of Team Victoria for cross country and track & field from 2007-13 ■■ 2012 U-20 Cross Country Champion in Victoria ■■ Bronze Medalist at the 4k U-18 Australia Cross Country Championships in 2010 ■■ Silver Medalist at the 4k U-16 Australia Cross Country Championships in 2009 ■■ Champion in the U-16 3,000-meter run at the 2009 Australia Track & Field Championships Personal ■■ Daughter of Peter and Brenda Cashin ■■ Has one brother and one sister ■■ Birthday is July 28 ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Enrolled in pre-sports psychology

ALYSSA DIEHL 2013 ■■ Did not compete

Prep ■■ Ran for coach Mike Combs at Chardon High School ■■ Named Valedictorian of senior class ■■ Four-year varsity letterwinner in cross country and track ■■ First-team All-PAC Conference ■■ Four-time regional qualifier ■■ Recipient of the Chardon High School Scholar-Athlete Award ■■ OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award

WVUCrossCountry

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal ■■ Birthday is September 29 ■■ Daughter of Robert and Rachel Diehl ■■ One of four children ■■ Has two brothers and a sister ■■ Majoring in industrial engineering ■■ Cousin ran track at Arkansas ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

AmyCashin -AlyssaDiehl

5-4, FRESHMAN CHARDON, OHIO

@WVUCrossCountry

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MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

MaggieDrazba –RachelFaulds

Rachel FAULDS

MAGGIE DRAZBA

5-1, FRESHMAN ST. MARYS, W.VA. At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete Prep ■■ Four-year letterwinner at St. Marys High ■■ 2011 and 2012 Gatorade West Virginia Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year ■■ 2013 Gatorade West Virginia Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year ■■ 2009, 2011 and 2012 West Virginia AA-A State Cross Country Champion ■■ Placed third at the Footlocker Southwest Regional with a time of 17:10 to qualify for the 2012 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, where she placed 22nd overall ■■ Second place at the 2012 USATF Cross Country Junior Championships ■■ Helped lead Team USA to the championship at the 2012 NACAC, where she placed fourth individually ■■ Holds the West Virginia State Meet record for cross country with a time of 17:17 ■■ Took top honors at the 2012 Great American Cross Country Festival ■■ Part of a St. Marys squad that won the 2009 AA-A West Virginia Cross Country Championship ■■ Undefeated in Little Kanawha Cross Country Conference Championship competition all four years ■■ West Virginia outdoor track and field record holder in the mile (4:53), 1,600-meter run (4:51), 3,000-meter run (9:37), 3,200-meter run (10:27) and two mile run (10:37) ■■ West Virginia indoor track and field record holder in the 3,200 (10:41), two-mile run (10:29) and the 5,000-meter run (17:40) ■■ Finished second at the 2013 Penn Relays in the 3,000-meter run ■■ Four-time West Virginia track and field state champion in class A in the 800-meter run (201013) and the 1,600-meter run (2010-13) ■■ Three-time West Virginia track and field state champion in class A in the 3,200-meter run (2011-13) ■■ Part of the 4x800-meter relay team that captured the state title in 2012 ■■ Holds the West Virginia Class A state meet record in the 800-meter run (2:18), 3,200-meter run (10:31) and the 4x800-meter relay (9:48) Personal ■■ Daughter of Charles and Kathleen Drazba ■■ Has two brothers ■■ Birthday is May 18 ■■ Enrolled in pre-human nutrition and foods ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

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RACHEL FAULDS

5-3, FRESHMAN FRANKFORD, ONTARIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete Prep ■■ Ran cross country and track & field at Trenton High and was coached by her father, Allan, and Sue Tripp ■■ Bronze Medalist in the Senior Girls 5k at the 2012 OFSAA Cross Country Championships ■■ Silver Medalist in the Junior Division at the 2011 OFSAA Cross Country Championships ■■ Silver Medalist in the Junior Division at the 2012 OFSAA Track & Field Championships in the 3,000-meter run ■■ Won the bronze medal at the Canadian Junior National Championships in the 3,000-meter run in 2011 ■■ Won the silver medal at the Canadian Youth National Championships in the 3,000-meter run

■■ Bronze

medalist sophomore year at the OFSAA Championships in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:17, while also placing sixth in the 1,500-meter run ■■ Also competitive swimmer for seven years Personal ■■ Daughter of Allan and Stephanie Faulds ■■ Has one sister ■■ Birthday is Oct. 25 ■■ Enrolled in pre-exercise physiology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

JILLIAN FORSEY

in the 1,500-meter run at the 2011 Canadian Youth National Championships ■■ Finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2011 Canadian Junior Championships ■■ Bronze medalist in the 1,200-meter run and fourth in the 2,000-meter run at the 2010 Canadian Youth National Championships ■■ Also a competitive cross country skier and was a member of the 2012 National Talent Squad that won a bronze medal in the 5k freestyle at the 2011 Canadian National Championships Personal ■■ Daughter of Bill Forsey and Rosemary Ryan ■■ Has one brother ■■ Birthday is June 9 ■■ Enrolled in pre-exercise physiology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

Jillian FORSEY

5-4, SOPHOMORE STEPHENVILLE, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team ■■ Named to All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team following a 25th-place finish at the NCAA Regional Meet on Nov. 15, in Bethlehem, Pa. ■■ Ran a personal-best time of 20:53 at the regional meet, while being the third Mountaineer to cross the line ■■ Finished in 25th place (21:34) in first appearance of her career at the Big 12 Championships on Nov. 2, in Waco, Texas ■■ Competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Ind., coming in 145th place with a time of 21:37.5 ■■ Claimed Silver Medal while representing the Canadian National Team at the 2014 North American, Central and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 21

JillianForsey

Prep ■■ Ran at Stephenville High for coach Ray Will ■■ Newfoundland Provincial Champion in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run and 3,000-meter run for six straight years ■■ Member of Team Canada for the World Junior Cross Country Championships, where she placed 49th with a 6k time 20:40 ■■ Placed eighth at the 2013 4k NACAC Cross Country Championships ■■ Finished first at the 2012 Canadian Cross Country Championships with a 5k time of 17:21 ■■ Won the Athletics Ontario Cross Country Championship with a 5k time of 17:45 ■■ Finished second at the Maine Cross Country Festival of Champions ■■ Named Newfoundland and Labrador Female Athlete of the year in 2012 ■■ Won the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run at the 2012 Nike High School Grand Prix ■■ Ran for Team Canada and finished 13th at the NACAC Cross Country Championship ■■ 3,000-meter Athletics Ontario Championships gold medalist in 2012 ■■ Finished 14th at the 2011 Canadian Cross Country Championships ■■ Placed fifth in the 3,000-meter run and seventh

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

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PeytonHampson –BrynnHarshbarger

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

■■ Runner-up

PEYTON HAMPSON

5-8, SOPHOMORE WAYNESBURG, PA. At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Academic All-Big 12 First Team ■■ Finished in 32nd place (24:31) in the season opener at the Lehigh Invitational on Aug. 31 ■■ Posted a 27th-place finish (23:51) at the PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept 13 ■■ Sixth Mountaineer across the line at the PSU National on Oct 18, while recording a 31st overall finish with a personal-best time of 22:52 Prep ■■ Ran for coaches Duane Bowers and Jeff Coss at Waynesburg Central ■■ Placed third in 800 meters at the 2012 PIAA Track and Field State Championships with a personal best time of 2:11.52 ■■ Ranked fifth on the Regional All-Times list for 800 meters ■■ Finished first in 800 meters at the Regional Championships in 2012 and recorded the fastest AA time in regional history ■■ Placed fifth in 800 meters at the 2011 PIAA Track and Field State Championships ■■ Holds the school records in the 400-meter and 800-meter runs, as well as the 4x400 relay Personal ■■ Daughter of Ron and Debby Hampson ■■ Birthday is Jan. 4 ■■ Has one brother and one sister ■■ Valedictorian of graduating class with a 4.0 GPA ■■ Enrolled in pre-human nutrition and foods ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

BRYNN HARSHBARGER

5-2, FRESHMAN MORGANTOWN, W.VA. At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete Prep ■■ Ran at Morgantown High for coach Mike Ryan ■■ Placed second in the 1,600-meter run and fifth in the 3,200-meter run at the 2013 West Virginia State Track & Field Championships ■■ Part of the winning 4x800-meter relay team at the 2013 West Virginia State Track & Field Championships ■■ Led team to a third-place finish at the NXN Southeast Regional Cross Country Championship, while also individually placing 15th

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at the 2012 West Virginia State Cross Country Championships, which helped her team to a first-place finish ■■ Placed 10th at the Great American Cross Country Festival with a personal-best 5k time of 18:02 ■■ Won the 3,200-meter run at the 2012 West Virginia State Track & Field Championships and placed third in the 1,600-meter run and second in the 4x800-meter relay ■■ Finished eighth individually at the 2012 West Virginia State Cross Country meet and led her team to a first-place finish ■■ Member of the 4x800-meter relay team that finished third at the 2011 West Virginia State Track & Field Championships Personal ■■ Daughter of Dave and Colleen Harshbarger ■■ Has one brother ■■ Birthday is Dec. 1 ■■ Enrolled in pre-biology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

Brynn HARSHBARGER

Brianna KEREKES

CORINNE KULE

5-4, FRESHMAN CHARDON, OHIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete Prep ■■ Ran at Chardon High for coach Mike Combs ■■ Four-time Premier Athletic Conference Cross Country Champion (2009-12) ■■ Three time state qualifier (2010-12) ■■ Named All-Ohio after placing 11th at the 2012 Division I Ohio State Cross Country Championships ■■ Selected to represent Ohio at the 2012 MidEast Cross Country Championships ■■ Scored for Ohio at the Footlocker Midwest Regional by placing 34th ■■ School record holder in the 5,000-meter run and a four time MVP ■■ Three-time Premier Athletic Conference Champion in the 1,600-meter run (2010-12) and also won the 3,200-meter run and 800-meter run ■■ 2012 state qualifier in the 3,200-meter run and played 14th at the Ohio Division 1 State Track & Field Championships ■■ Four-time MVP for school track team ■■ Three-time All-Ohio Academic Award ■■ Four-time All-P.A.C. Academic Award for cross country and track & field

BRIANNA KEREKES

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Finished 117th in the season opener at the Lehigh Invitational on Aug. 31 in Bethlehem, Pa. ■■ Also competed in the PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 13, coming in 28th place overall with a personal-best time of 24:45

Corinne KULE

Prep ■■ Ran for coaches Lori and Tyler DeVault at Trinity Christian ■■ Named All-State First Team after placing second in the 200-meter and 400-meter runs and fourth in the 100-meter dash ■■ At the OVAC finals, placed sixth in the 400 meter and fifth in the 200 meter and 100 meter ■■ Holds the school records in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter runs and the 4x400 relay ■■ Also played in basketball, volleyball and softball

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

Personal ■■ Daughter of Brian and Susan Kerekes ■■ Birthday is April 26 ■■ Has one brother ■■ Enrolled in pre-occupational therapy ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll ■■ Dean’s List ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

BryannaKerekes – CorinneKule

5-5, SOPHOMORE MORGANTOWN, W.VA.

Personal ■■ Daughter of Karl and Joanne Kule ■■ Birthday is Dec. 9 ■■ Dad ran cross country and track & field at WVU ■■ Enrolled in pre-speech pathology ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

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MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

AllisonLasnicki

Allison LASNICKI

ALLISON LASNICKI

5-6 SENIOR CANASTOTA, N.Y.

At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ TBD At UConn in 2011-12 ■■ Took 6th place at the CCSU Blue Devil Invite (18:13) ■■ Finished the Roy Griak Invitational 101st ■■ Placed 28th at the Penn St. Nationals in 22:21 ■■ Placed 36th at the BIG EAST Championship in 21:18.4 ■■ Took 38th at the NCAA Regionals.

At UConn in 2010-11 ■■ Placed first in her first collegiate meet, running 18:55 at the Army Open ■■ UConn’s second finisher at the BIG EAST Preview, placing eighth (19:26) ■■ UConn’s top finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational, placing 65th (22:22) ■■ Top finisher for the Huskies at the New England Championships, running 18:02 and placing 14th ■■ Placed 45th at the BIG EAST Championship in 22:47 ■■ Ran 22:13 at the NCAA Northeast Regionals ■■ Finished 5th at the Penn State Nationals in the 3000m (10:01.45) ■■ Placed 8th at the New Balance Invite in the 3000m (9:59.00) Prep ■■ Coached by Andy Pino at Canastota High School ■■ Two-time cross country Section III Champion ■■ Two-time First Team All-State 2009 New York Class C State Champion ■■ Section III Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior ■■ In track and field, 10-time Section III Champion ■■ 2010 Valedictorian at Canastota High Personal ■■ Daughter of Joseph Lasnicki and Lisa Dolan ■■ Birthday is September 2, 1992 ■■ Majoring in biology ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

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Renée MASSIONEUVE

RENÉE MAISONNEUVE 5-3, FRESHMAN TIMMINS, ONTARIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete

RenéeMaisonneuve

Prep ■■ Ran at Ecole secondaire catholique Theriault for coach Joel Ruel ■■ Recipient of the trophy for best individual and best team performance at the 2012-13 OFSAA Cross Country Championships ■■ Canadian Interscholastic record holder in the 1,500-meter steeplechase (4:57.06) ■■ School record holder in the 1,500-meter run (4:52), 800-meter run (2:17), 3,000-meter run (10:43) and 1,500-meter steeplechase (4:57.06) ■■ Gold medalist in the 1,500-meter steeplechase at the 2013 OFSAA Track & Field Championships ■■ 2013 Regional Track & Field champion in the 800-meter run, 3,000-meter run and 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ Set a new Regional Track & Field Meet record in the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ Helped her team to a silver medal at the 2012 OFSAA Cross Country Championships ■■ 2012 Regional Cross Country Champion ■■ Silver medalist in the 1,500-meter steeplechase at the 2012 OFSAA Track & Field Championships ■■ 2012 Regional Track & Field Champion in the 3,000-meter run and the 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ Broke the course record on her way to winning the 2011 Regional Cross Country Championship ■■ Member of Team Ontario and finished fifth individually at the National Legion Track and Field Championship ■■ 2011 Provincial Champion in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the Legion Provincial Track & Field Championships ■■ 2011 Regional Track & Field champion in the 800-meter run, 3,000-meter run and 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ 2010 Regional Cross Country Champion ■■ 2010 Regional Track and Field champion in the 800-meter run, 400-meter run and 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ U-15 Provincial record holder in the 1,500-meter steeplechase ■■ 2010 Bronze medalist at the National Legion Track & Field Championships Personal ■■ Daughter of Luc and Julie Maisonneuve ■■ Has two brothers and one sister ■■ Birthday is Oct. 1 ■■ Enrolled in pre-international studies ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

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MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

MilliePaladino –RebeccaWendt

MILLIE PALADINO

REBECCA WENDT

5-0, FRESHMAN MORGANTOWN, W.VA. Prep ■■ Ran for coach Ed Frohnapel at University High ■■ Won mile at 2014 Penn Relays (4:45.34) ■■ West Virginia state championin 3,200 meters (10:00.42) ■■ 2013-14 Gatorade West Virginia Girls’ CrossCountry Runner of the Year ■■ 2013 WV Class AAA Cross Country State Champion with a 5k time of 17:55.84 ■■ Competed at 2013 Foot Locker Girls Cross Country Championships, finishing in 11th place (17:45.22) ■■ Holds fastest mile time in West Virginia high school history (4:43.84) ■■ Maintained a 4.12 grade point average, while serving as a member of the National Honor Society Personal ■■ Birthday is October 18 ■■ Daughter of Joseph and Janet Paladino ■■ Twin brother, Andy, runs cross country at Syracuse ■■ Will major in Engineering ■■ Cousin, Tony Sapienza, placed fourth in the 1958 Boston Marathon

5-10, FRESHMAN WHITBY, ONTARIO At West Virginia in 2013 ■■ Did not compete Prep ■■ Double 2013 OFSAA bronze medalist in the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run ■■ Named Most Outstanding Varsity track athlete in 2013 and 2012 ■■ Silver medalist at the 2012 Junior Provincials in the 800-meter run and bronze medalist in the 1,500-meter run ■■ 2012 Youth National Champion in the 800-meter run and silver medalist in the 1,500-meter run ■■ Finished fifth at the 2011 OFSAA Cross Country Championships ■■ 2010 OFSAA Midget Champion in the 1,500 and 3,000-meter runs, while earning bronze in the 800-meter run ■■ Broke four regional records on her way to being named most outstanding track and cross country athlete Personal ■■ Daughter of Stephen and Alison Wendt ■■ Has one sister ■■ Birthday is Dec. 15 ■■ Enrolled in pre-business ■■ Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ■■ Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

Rebecca WENDT

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2014 Preview

A Look at 2014 Cleary’s Foundation

Coach Sean Cleary enters his eighth year as head coach of the Mountaineers and his 23rd year overall with the program. Cleary has experienced great success at the helm, guiding WVU to six NCAA Cross Country Championships appearances in seven seasons as head coach. The Georgetown, Ontario, native coached West Virginia to a second-place finish at the 2013 Big 12 Cross Country Championships and a fourth-place result at the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship. Cleary also serves as President of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Sean CLEARY

Rising Talent

Many Mountaineer underclassmen look to carry their success from last season into the 2014 campaign. Three freshmen stepped to the line and competed for WVU at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Amy Cashin, Paige Szabat and Jillian Forsey hope to continue to progress this season. Forsey was the lone Mountaineer freshman to claim All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors a year ago.

Preparing for State College Local Stars

Local high school runners have always seemed to find a way onto the Mountaineer cross country team over the years, and 2014 will be no different. Six West Virginia natives fill the roster this season, including four from Morgantown. Redshirt freshman Maggie Drazba and true freshman Millie Paladino look to make immediate impacts on the squad. The two held many West Virginia high school cross country records prior to attending WVU.

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The 2014 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet will be held at the Blue-White Golf Course in University Park, Pa. The Mountaineers will compete at the PSU Spike Shoe Invitational early in the season in order to become familiar with the course and its features. Last season, the Mountaineers competed at Lehigh University twice prior Lehigh’s hosting of the regional meet. This was a strategy that proved successful, as West Virginia placed fourth at the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Regional – a finish which ultimately qualified WVU for its sixth NCAA Championships appearance in the last seven seasons.

International Flavor

Coach Cleary’s Canadian roots have led to a large number of Canadians on the West Virginia roster over recent years. Rachel Faulds, Jillian Forsey, Rebecca Wendt and Megan Yuan will represent Canada on the Mountaineer squad in 2014. Sophomore Amy Cashin, a Werribee, Australia, native, will also add some international flavor to the roster this season. Cashin and Forsey competed at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terra Haute, Ind., while Faulds and Wendt took a redshirt last season.

Sarah MARTINELLI

Replacing Martinelli

2014 Preview

Sarah Martinelli was an integral part of the WVU program in recent years, having been the lone Mountaineer to garner All-Big 12 honors a season ago. Multiple Mountaineers will look to step up and replace the void left by Martinelli’s departure. Senior Allison Lasnicki and two-time All-American Kaitlyn Gillespie hope to be back in action in 2014. Gillespie has sat out the last two seasons due to injury, while Lasnicki only competed in one competition a year ago due to injury. Senior Savanna Plombon, along with junior Kelly Williams, hope to use their experience in the past to their advantage this season.

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

49

2014 Preview

Q&A With Coach Cleary

Q:

ast season was full of its ups and downs, but really L seemed to end on a high note as you qualified for the National Finals for the sixth time in seven years. What was the secret to that success?

A:

he way that we ended last year’s season was really just an T incredible way for these youngsters to see that if you never quit, you never stop trying until the bitter end, things can work out in your favor. A year ago, we probably hadn’t shown throughout the course of the season that we were one of the better teams in the country, but we kept our heads on and with this sport, probably more so than any other sport, really what matters are the last two meets of the season.

Q:

ith such a young team a year ago, how beneficial W was it to give so many underclassmen the opportunity to compete at the National Championships?

A:

hat was exciting about that is sometimes you can W take it for granted and expect that is what should happen and forget about the hard work. A lot of the youngsters in this program went out and actually bettered themselves over the next six or seven months.

Some of the young ladies who we saw in the national championship meet last season, we’re hoping to redshirt them this year, hoping to take a young lady like Savanna Plombon, Amy Cashin and Megan Yuan – because of the depth that we have – preserve some of their eligibility. Time will tell if we need them. They’re all ready to go, like we did with Yuan last year.

Q:

Turning the page to 2014, what do you expect from your group and what type of challenges will you face?

A:

Coming into this year, we still have a number of things that need to fall into place for us. We need to Lasnicki’s eligibility back.

We hope the NCAA finds it in their heart to see what we see in regards to that situation. Katie Gillespie was granted hers and is healthy. If we can negotiate her throughout the course of the season, she should emerge as good as or better than she’s ever been in cross country. That’s saying a lot for a two-time All-American.

We’re tidying up some of the unfortunate situations that occurred for Kelly Williams last year. We’re back in control of her career. We expect at least what she was able to accomplish in cross country last year and to bring her back into the national spotlight in track.

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Q:

Take us through some of your returners and their progressions — who stands out to you entering the season?

A:

Other big returners from last year, Jillian Forsey, coming off a tremendous summer season, which saw her in the top-ten of the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. I could be wrong about this, but by my knowledge I would say Jillian was the one, two, or three best 5K runner in the country with her 16:02 in Eugene. Coming into the year in cross country, she will be a sophomore. Six or seven months from now, she’s still a freshman in track. So we have a big time runner in her.

Some of our returners who did not run last year – Maggie Drazba has had just a phenomenal five or six months now.

She’s come off a USA Junior fourth-place finish in her only competition last year. She’s carried that momentum straight into the cross country season. We expect her to be everything that we thought out of high school, and that’s a big time cross country runner for us. She’s joined by Brynn Harshbarger. She’s off to a great start. She went home over the summer and said to herself ‘I’m tired of being average, and I’m going to come back and make an impact in this program.’ It’s very clear that she did that. Sydney Scott is another one – she’s now gotten consistency. She’s running consistently, she’s running well and she’s a big-time, big-meet runner. That girl never chokes when it matters. I’m really excited to see where she can go this year.

Renee Maisonneuve and Rachel Faulds have both gone home after interesting freshmen campaigns. We found some injuries from high school with them. We discovered them and fixed them, and now they’re on the right track, leading to depth in the program. All the names I just mentioned hope to be in our top seven in the national meet, should we qualify, certainly in the top 10 for the Big 12.

Paige Szabat was one of our top-seven runners at the national meet last year. She was one of scorers, actually. Really quite a shocking freshman campaign for her last year.

The summer has gone well, and we’re moving forward.

“...we’re expecting to be We’re e

Q:

What type of impact are you expecting from her this season from freshman runner Mille Paladino?

A:

Incomer Millie Paladino, one of the best long distance and middle distance recruits in the country, has come to us in relatively good shape. She’s getting fitter by the day. We expect to see her make a big impact. On paper, she’s one of the finest recruits that we’ve ever signed here at West Virginia.

While we do have some experience in the senior and junior levels, primarily, again, we’re looking at a freshmen and sophomore team. It’s still a relatively young team, but a team with great experience. I think having not run at the regional level or the national level will not affect this team. Therefore, we’re expecting to be in the national finals. We’re expecting to be a better team than we were a year ago. Leading up into that, I would say we’re a better regional team.

Q:

he schedule this season features a couple of the T top meets in the country. What was the strategy behind your scheduling this season?

A:

We’ve changed our schedule a little bit. We’re heading to Wisconsin for a big meet in the middle part of our season.

Meets like Wisconsin, there are two or three of them in the country, greatly increase the odds of going to the national championships, as long as you go and do your job on that day. The first truly meaningful meet, in terms of national qualifying for us, we’re looking at that being Wisconsin.

Most programs talk about being ready for the end of the season, and I feel like we do a good job as a group managing our energy throughout the year being ready for those moments.

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

2014 Preview

in the national finals. expecting to be a better team than we were a year ago.”

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2014 Preview

2014 Cross Country Schedule FRIDAY, AUG. 29 Lehigh Invitational SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 PSA Spiked Shoe Invitational SATURDAY, OCT. 4 Greater Louisville Classic FRIDAY, OCT. 17 Wisconsin Adidas Invitational SATURDAY, NOV. 1 Big 12 Championship FRIDAY, NOV. 14 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional SATURDAY, NOV. 22 NCAA Championships

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Host: Lehigh University Location: Bethlehem, Pa. Course: Lehigh Cross Country Course

SID Contact: Chelsea Vielhauer Email: cpv213@lehigh.edu Phone: 610-758-5101 Website: LehighSports.com Twitter: @LUTF

Host: Penn State Location: State College, Pa. Course: Penn State Blue/White Golf Course

SID Contact: Matt Caracappa Email: mnc5000@psu.edu Phone: 814-865-1757 Website: GoPSUSports.com Twitter:@PennStateTFXC

Date: Saturday, Oct. 4 Host: Louisville Location: Louisville, Ky. Course: E.P. ‘Tom’ Sawyer State Park

SID Contact: Troy Killian Email: tkillian@louisvillesports.org Phone: 502-587-7767 Website: GoCards.com Twitter:@UofLTrackXC

Host: Wisconsin Location: Madison, Wis. Course: Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course

SID Contact: Brandon Harrison Email: bah@athletics.wisc.edu Phone: 608-265-3534 Website: GoCards.com Twitter:@WisconsinXC

Host: Kansas Location: Lawrence, Kan. Course: Rim Rock Farm

SID Contact: Brad Gilbert Email: brgilbert@KU.edu Phone: 785-864-7788 Website: KUAthletics.com Twitter:@KansasXC

Host: Penn State Location: State College, Pa. Course: Penn State Blue/White Golf Course

SID Contact: Matt Caracappa Email: mnc5000@psu.edu Phone: 814-865-1757 Website: GoPSUSports.com Twitter:@PennStateTFXC

Host: Indiana State Location: Terre Haute, Ind. Course: Wabash Valley Family Sports Center

SID Contact: Kevin Jenison Email: kevin.jenison@indstate.edu Phone: 812-237-4073 Website: WWW.NCAA.com Twitter:@NCAA

2013 Review

A Look Back at 2013 The 2013 West Virginia cross country team was filled with individual and team accomplishments under the direction of seventh-year head coach Sean Cleary. A strong finish to the 2013 campaign ultimately provided the Mountaineers with their sixth NCAA appearance in the last seven seasons, as well as a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championships.

Martinelli Earns Accolades

In her final fall season sporting a Mountaineer uniform, Morgantown, W.Va., native Sarah Martinelli finished her cross country career with her most impressive season. Martinelli earned All-Big 12 and All-Mid-Atlantic Region distinctions, helping the Mountaineers to a second-place finish at the Big 12 Championships and a fourth-place result at the Regional meet. She was named the Big 12 Runner of the Week for her performance at the Paul Short Run. Martinelli also garnered multiple academic recognitions while being named the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year for Cross Country and being named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Continued Cleary Success

Since taking over as head coach of the cross country program in 2005, coach Sean Cleary has experienced great success at the helm.

Last season was no different, as the Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the seventh time eight seasons under the direction of Cleary. West Virginia was either receiving votes or ranked in the top 30 by the USTFCCCA every week in 2013, peaking at No. 24 twice throughout the fall.

Region Recognitions

West Virginia has historically landed multiple runners on the All-Mid-Atlantic Region team and 2013 was no different. Three Mountaineers earned all-region recognition after helping WVU to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Regional meet – a finish that would ultimately propel Cleary’s bunch to its sixth NCAA qualification in the last seven years. Kelly Williams earned her second all-region distinction in as many seasons, while Sarah Martinelli and Jillian Forsey.

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Wild Finish in Waco Following a fourth-place result at the 2012 Big 12 Cross Country Championships, West Virginia recorded its best Big 12 Championship finish to date in 2013.

The Mountaineers placed second overall in the event, hosted by Baylor in Waco, Texas. Sarah Martinelli was the first WVU runner across the line, finishing in eighth place overall to earn All-Big 12 honors. Savanna Plombon, Kelly Williams and Jillian Forsey all placed in the top 25 at the meet.

2013 Women’s Cross Country Results

Date Aug. 31 Sept. 13 Oct. 5 Oct. 18 Nov. 2 Nov. 15 Nov. 23

Event Lehigh Invitational PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational Paul Short Run PSU National Big 12 Championships NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional NCAA Championships

Freshmen Frenzy

The Mountaineers signed one of their largest freshmen classes in recent years in 2013. Coach Cleary 11 newcomers to the team, with many of them making an immediate impact. Freshman Jillian Forsey earned a spot on the All-Mid-Atlantic Region team. Forsey along with freshmen Amy Cashin and Paige Szabat all competed at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terra Haute, Ind. The same trio competed at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships in Waco, Texas, helping the Mountaineers to a second place finish.

Experience at Bethlehem

Results 4th 8th 8th 1st 2nd 4th 24th

paid off as the Mountaineers finished fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional on Nov. 15 at the same course. The result ultimately qualified Cleary and his squad for the NCAA Championships.

Mountaineers on the National Scene

Two freshmen members of the cross country team make their presence felt on the national level during the summer of 2014. Freshman Jillian Forsey competed at the 2014 Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships in Ste-Therese, Quebec, on July 6, and later competed at the 2014 World Junior Track and Field Championships on July 23, in Eugene, Ore. Fellow freshman Maggie Drazba placed fourth in the 5,000 meter run at the 2014 USA Junior Championships in Eugene, Ore., July 7. In November of 2013, Forsey along with Megan Yuan each competed at the 2014 Canadian Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, BC. Forsey finished in second place overall, qualifying her to compete with the Canadian National Team.

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2013 Review

With the 2013 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional scheduled to take place at the Goodman Cross Country Course in Bethlehem, Pa., coach Cleary planned ahead. The veteran head coach had his team participate in two meets at the course throughout the season, competing at the Lehigh Invitational on Aug. 31, and the Paul Short Run on Oct. 5. The preparation

Top Finisher Paige Szabat Paige Szabat Sarah Martinelli Kelly Williams Sarah Martinelli Kelly Williams Sarah Martinelli

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2013 Review

2013 Meet-by-Meet

Lehigh Invitational, Aug. 31: Bethlehem, Pa.

The No. 29 West Virginia University cross country team began its 2013 season at the Lehigh Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa., earning a fourth place finish out of 13 teams.

The invitational was held at Goodman Cross Country Course at Lehigh University. The course also was the host of the NCAA Regionals later in the season Sophomore Paige Szabat was the first Mountaineer to cross the finish line, finishing in 10th place overall with a time of 23:41.75.

Junior Allison Pettit finished in 19th (23:50.51), junior Lydia Martinelli crossed the line in 29th (24:19.51), freshman Peyton Hampson in 32nd (24:31.55) and senior Chelsea Jarvis finished in 49th (25:12.03).

PSU Spiked Shoe Invitational, Sept. 13: State College, Pa.

The No. 29-ranked West Virginia University cross country team finished in eighth place at the Penn State University Spike Shoe Invitational on the PSU White & Blue golf course in State College, Pa. Sophomore Paige Szabat led the way for the Mountaineers, crossing the finish line in 30th place. The 22:44 time is a new personal record for Szabat.

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Paul Short Run, Oct. 5: Bethlehem, Pa.

The No. 29 West Virginia University cross country team finished in eighth place out of 47 schools at the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational.

Seniors Sarah Martinelli and Allison Lasnicki led the Mountaineers, finishing in 19th (20:55) and 25th (21:04) place, respectively.

Freshman Jillian Forsey crossed in 48th place (21:25), sophomore Kelly Williams in 75th (21:37), junior Savanna Plombon finished in 90th (21:44) and sophomore Paige Szabat in 166th (22:23).

The top five runners for WVU made their season debuts, with Lasnicki and Forsey running in their first-career race as Mountaineers.

Martinelli’s 20:55 performance marks the best time posted by a WVU runner last fall, and sets a personal record, beating her former time of 21:38 at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional. As a squad, the Mountaineers finished with a score of 257 and an average time of 21:21 for the top-five runners.

All five WVU runners ran season bests, with Szabat, junior Lydia Martinelli and freshmen Peyton Hampson and Brianna Kerekes running career bests. Martinelli finished in 41st (23:31), senior Allison Pettit crossed the line in 42nd (23:32), Hampson in 46th (23:51) and Kerekes finished in 51st (24:45).

Finishing in the top 10, including WVU, were five ranked schools in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll. Georgetown, ranked No. 6, won the event with a team score of 112.

No. 12 Villanova tallied 168 points for a third place finish. No. 10 Cornell, led by senior Rachel Sorna’s fifth-place finish (20:26), came in fourth with 182 points, and No. 13 Penn State tallied 326 points for ninth place.

Penn State’s Emily Giannotti won the 6K race, finishing in 21:17. The Nittany Lions claimed the team title, sweeping the event with first through fifth-place finishes.

Dartmouth’s senior Abbey D’Agostino crossed the line in first, completing the 3.7 mile course in 19:44. The Big Green finished in second place with a team total of 125.

PSU National, Oct. 18: State College, Pa.

The West Virginia University cross country team finished first with a team total of 28 at the Penn State University Nationals at the PSU Blue/White Golf Course in University Park, Pa. The Mountaineers, who were ranked No. 4 in the Mid-Atlantic Region and were receiving votes in the national poll, dominated the event, claiming four of the top-five finishes.

Sophomore Kelly Williams was the first Mountaineer to cross the line, finishing in second place overall (21:22). Williams posted a season-best time and finished just two seconds off her personal-best time (21:20) set last season at the Mid-Atlantic Regional.

Freshman Jillian Forsey finished in third overall (21:23), senior Sarah Martinelli crossed the line in fourth (21:30) and junior Savanna Plombon came in fifth place (21:47) for the Mountaineers.

Williams, Forsey and Plombon all trimmed seconds off their times from the Paul Short Run on Oct. 5, each running season-bests.

Freshman Paige Szabat was the fifth Mountaineer to finish the race, coming in 14th place overall (22:19).

Freshman Peyton Hampson (22:52) and senior Allison Pettit (23:30) finished in 31st and 40th, respectively, rounding out the West Virginia competitors.

Bloomsburg’s Victoria Davis was the first competitor to finish the race (21:16), completing the 6K course six seconds ahead of Williams.

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Nov. 15: Bethlehem, Pa. Big 12 Championships, Nov. 2: Waco, Texas

The West Virginia University cross country team posted a second-place finish at the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, at the Cottonwood Golf Course.

No. 8 Iowa State won the meet with a team score of 35, while the Mountaineers finished with a team score of 104.

Senior Sarah Martinelli was the first Mountaineer to cross the finish line, coming in eighth overall with a personal-best time of 20:44.9 to earn All-Big 12 honors.

The 20:44.9 finish was also the best time from a West Virginia runner this season.

Junior Savanna Plombon was the second Mountaineer to cross the line, finishing in 21st place overall (21:25.5). Sophomore Kelly Williams (21.32.7) and freshman Jillian Forsey (21:34.0) weren’t far behind, coming in 24th and 25th, respectively.

Freshmen Paige Szabat (21:35.5) and Amy Cashin (21:51.3) also recorded top-40 finishes, completing the course in 27th and 38th place, respectively.

The No. 24 West Virginia University cross country team finished in fourth place at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bethlehem, Pa., at the Goodman Cross Country Course, behind six personal-best times by Mountaineer runners.

The 24th-ranked Mountaineers recorded a team score of 124, with five runners finishing in the top 30. Villanova, who is unranked in the national poll, won the region with a team score of 31. No. 4 Georgetown finished second (35), No. 30 Penn State came in third (92) and No. 22 Princeton finished in fifth (135) behind WVU. Sophomore runner Kelly Williams was the first Mountaineer to finish the race, coming in 21st place overall with a personal-best time of 20:49. Senior All-Big 12 runner Sarah Martinelli was right behind Williams in 22nd place (20:50) just six seconds off her personal-best time (20:44) set at the Big 12 Championships two weeks prior.

West Virginia freshman Jillian Forsey (20:53) and junior Savanna Plombon (20:54) completed the course in 25th and 26th place, respectively, with both runners logging personal-best times.

Sophomore Megan Yuan was not far behind, finishing in 30th place with a personal-best time of 21:06, improving on her time from the Big 12 Championships by 1:16.

Sophomore Paige Szabat shaved one second off her previous personal-best time, posting a 63rd-place finish (21:34), and freshman Amy Cashin finished in 65th with a personal-best finish of 21:35.

Oklahoma State finished in third place (116), Texas came in fourth (121) and Baylor and Kansas State finished in fifth and sixth place, both recording team scores of 123.

Villanova senior runners Emily Lipari and Nicky Akande finished in first and second place, respectively, with each completing the course in 19:53.

The Mountaineers concluded their season with a 24th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. Senior Sarah Martinelli led the way for the Mountaineers, finishing in 81st place with a time of 21:23.2.

Sophomore Kelly Williams finished second for WVU, crossing in 96th place (21:29.3). Freshman Jillian Forsey took 115th (21:37.5), freshman Amy Cashin finished in 163rd (22:03.8) and sophomore Paige Szabat rounded out the Mountaineers’ scoring with a 166th-place finish (22:05.5).

Junior Savanna Plombon followed with a 174th-place finish, crossing the line in 22:12.6. Sophomore Megan Yuan crossed in 195th (22:28.8).

WVU’s combined score of 621 beat out No. 22 Penn State, No. 23 Notre Dame and No. 25 Vanderbilt. No. 7 Iowa State represented the only other Big 12 Conference school at the championships, and finished in 13th place.

No.1 Providence claimed the women’s National Championship with a score of 141. The Friars placed four runners in the top 75, and three in the top 50. Dartmouth senior Abbey D’Agostino won the individual title, finishing the 6K course in 20:00.3.

WVU came into the race ranked No. 26 in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll. The Mountaineers were awarded an at-large bid to the the championships after finishing fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional.

WVUCrossCountry

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2013 Review

The conference championship for the Cyclones marked their third consecutive Big 12 title. West Virginia improved on its fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships a year ago.

NCAA Cross Country Championships, Nov. 23: Terre Haute, Ind.

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2013 Review

Individual Times Amy Cashin (Fr.)

Event Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Jillian Forsey (Fr.) Event Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Chelsea Jarvis (Sr.) Event Lehigh Invitational PSU National

Sarah Martinelli (Sr.) Event Paul Short Run PSU National Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Sarah McCauley (So.) Event Spiked Shoe Invitational

Peyton Hampson (Fr.) Event Spiked Shoe Invitational

Lydia Martinelli (Fr.) Event Spiked Shoe Invitational

Briana Kerekes (Fr.) Event Lehigh Invitational Spiked Shoe Invitational

WVU Overall Time 6th 40th 21:51.3 7th 63rd 21:35 4th 199th 22:03.8 WVU Overall Time 4th 25th 21:34.0 3rd 25th 20:53 3rd 145th 21:37.5 WVU Overall Time 5th 49th 25:12 10th 62nd 24:20 WVU Overall Time 1st 19th 20:55 3rd 4th 21:30 1st 8th 20:44.9 2nd 22nd 20:50 1st 109th 21:23.2 WVU Overall Time 6th 40th 22:55 WVU Overall Time 4th 27th 23:51 WVU Overall Time 2nd 25th 23:31 WVU Overall Time 6th 117th 28:31 5th 28th 24:45

Allison Pettit (Sr.)

Event Lehigh Invitational Spiked Shoe Invitational Blue/White Golf Course

WVU Overall Time 2nd 19th 23:50 3rd 26th 23:32 7th 40th 23:30

Savanna Plombon (Jr.) Event Paul Short Run PSU National Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Sydney Scott (So.) Event Big 12 Championships

Paige Szabat (So.) Event Lehigh Invitational Spiked Shoe Invitational Paul Short Run PSU National Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Kelly Williams (So.) Event Paul Short Run PSU National Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

Megan Yuan (So.) Event Big 12 Championships NCAA Regionals NCAA Championships

WVU Overall Time 5th 90th 21:44 4th 5th 21:47 2nd 21st 21:25.5 4th 26th 20:54 6th 211th 22:12.6 WVU Overall Time 7th 48th 22:08.1 WVU Overall Time 1st 10th 23:41 1st 20th 22:44 6th 166th 22:23 5th 14th 22:19 5th 27th 21:35.5 6th 61st 21:34 5th 202th 22:05.5 WVU Overall Time 4th 75th 21:37 1st 2nd 21:22 3rd 24th 21:32.7 1st 21st 20:49 2nd 126th 21:29.3 WVU Overall Time 8th 53rd 22:22.4 5th 30th 21:06 7th 233rd 22:28.8

Accolades All-Mid-Atlantic Region Sarah Martinelli Kelly Williams Jillian Forsey

All-Big 12

Sarah Martinelli

Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year Sarah Martinelli

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Academic All-Big 12 Kelly Williams* Kaitlyn Gillespie Sarah Martinelli Savanna Plombon Lydia Martinelli

Allison Pettit Peyton Hampson Paige Szabat Chelsea Jarvis *4.0 GPA

Record Book

NCAA Honors ALL-AMERICANS Kaitlyn Gillespie ����������������������������� 2010, 2011 Kate Harrison ��������������������������������������������� 2011 Marie-Louise Asselin ������������� 2007, 2008, 2009 Keri Bland ����������������������������� 2007, 2008, 2009 Clara Grandt ��������������������������������������������� 2009 Megan Metcalfe ������������������������������� 2002, 2004 Charity Wachera ��������������������������������������� 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 Jillian Forsey ������������������������������������������� 2013 Kelly Williams ��������������������������������� 2012. 2013 Sarah Martinelli ����������������������������������������� 2013 Sydney Scott ������������������������������������������� 2012 Kaitlyn Gillespie ����������������������������� 2010, 2011 Sarah-Anne Brault ����������������� 2010, 2011, 2012 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 ������������������������� 1999, 2000 Karin Lockhart ��������������������������������� 1998, 2000 Kate Vermeulen ����������������������������������������� 1998 Charity Wachera ��������������������������������������� 1998 Nancy Knapp ������������������������������������������� 1998 Francine Darroch ��������������������������������������� 1998 NCAA TEAM QUALIFIERS 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013

INDIVIDUAL NCAA QUALIFIERS Kaitlyn Gillespie ��������������������������������������� 2010 Sarah-Anne Brault ��������������������������� 2010, 2012 Susan Davis ����������������������������������������������� 2005 Megan Metcalfe ����������������������������� 2002, 2003 Tara Struyk ����������������������������������������������� 2003 Merissa Sexsmith ������������������������������������� 1999 Rebecca Stallwood ����������������������������������� 1999 Kate Vermeulen ����������������������������������������� 1998 Charity Wachera ����������������������������� 1995, 1997 Vicki Stum ������������������������������������������������� 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) 2012 ���������������������������������������������� Brault (76th) 2013 ������������������������������������� 24th (621 (points)

Conference Honors ALL-BIG 12 Sarah Martinelli ����������������������������������������� 2013 Sarah-Anne Brault ������������������������������������� 2012 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 ��������������������������������������� 1997 Ahna Lewis ����������������������������������������������� 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 Bold/Italic indicate current runners

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ATLANTIC 10 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Charity Wachera ��������������������������������������� 1994 Heather Bury ��������������������������������������������� 1993 ALL-ATLANTIC 10 1994 ������������������������������� Charity Wachera, 2nd ��������������������������������������������� Carisa Brown, 5th ���������������������������������������������� Heather Bury, 7th �������������������������������������� Kerryn Davidson, 10th 1993 ��������������������������������� Kerryn Davidson 3rd ���������������������������������������������� Heather Bury, 5th 1992 �������������������������������� Kerryn Davidson, 9th 1991 ������������������������������������������ Vicki Stum, 1st ����������������������������������������������� Erin O’Reilly, 3rd 1990 ������������������������������������������Vicki Stum, 3rd

All-Americans CharityWACHERA 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 sixth-place 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.

MeganMETCALFE 2002 • 2004

Record Book

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.

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Record Book

Marie-LouiseASSELIN 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 all-Mid-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.

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KeriBLAND 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.

ClaraGRANDT 2009

Record Book

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 Louisville’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 WVU’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.

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

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Record Book

KaitlynGILLESPIE 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 All-America, 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.

KateHARRISON 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 four-time NCAA participant, Harrison recorded the all-time program best finish at an 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 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 All-Academic team.

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West Virginia University

E.Gordon Gee PRESIDENT

Dr. E. Gordon Gee is one of America’s most prominent higher education leaders, having helmed universities for more than three decades. In 2009, Time magazine named him one of the top 10 university presidents in the United States.

In 2014, Gee returned to West Virginia University, where his career as a university president began. His leadership goals include putting students first, advancing the university’s research agenda, partnering with West Virginia communities and making sure that 1.8 million West Virginians know in their hearts and minds that West Virginia University is their university.

Born in Vernal, Utah, Gee graduated from the University of Utah with an honors degree in history and earned his J.D. and Ed.D degrees from Columbia University. He clerked under Chief Justice David T. Lewis of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before being named a judicial fellow and staff assistant to the U.S. Supreme Court. In this role, he worked for Chief Justice Warren Burger on administrative and legal problems of the Court and federal judiciary. Gee returned to Utah as an associate professor and associate dean in the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, and was granted full professorship in 1978.

One year later, he became dean of the West Virginia University College of Law, and, in 1981, was named West Virginia University president. He served in that role until 1985.

He went on to lead the University of Colorado (1985-1990), Brown University (1998-2000), and Vanderbilt University (2001-2007). He served as president of The Ohio State University from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2007 to 2013.

Gee has been a member of several education-governance organizations and committees, including the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents, the Inter-University Council of Ohio, the Business-Higher Education Forum, and the American Association of Universities. He was chair of the American Council on Education’s Commission on Higher Education Attainment and served as co-chair of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Energy Advisory Committee. In

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President E. Gordon Gee with his family -- son-in-law, David Patrón, daughter, Dr. Rebekah Gee, and twins Eva, on Gee's lap, and Elizabeth

2009, Gee was invited to join the International Advisory Board of King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Active in a number of national professional and service organizations during his tenures, he has served on the boards for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., Limited Brands and the National 4-H Council. In 2011, Gee was appointed to serve as secretary on the Board of Directors of Ohio’s economic development program, JobsOhio. In 2011-2012, he was asked by Governor John Kasich to chair the Ohio Higher Education Capital Funding Collaborative and the Ohio Higher Education Funding Commission.

Gee has received a number of honorary degrees, awards, fellowships and recognitions. He is a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest science organization. In 1994, Gee received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Utah, as well as from Teachers College of Columbia University. In 2013, he received the ACE Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award and received the Outstanding Academic Leader of the Year Award on behalf of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is the co-author of 11 books, including Law, Policy and Higher Education, published in 2012. He has also authored many papers and articles on law and education.

Gee’s daughter, Rebekah, is the Medicaid Medical Director for the State of Louisiana, and an assistant professor of Public Health and Medicine at Louisiana State University. She is also a Norman F. Gant/American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology/IOM Anniversary Fellow.

Oliver Luck DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

As Director of Athletics at West Virginia University, Oliver Luck

has worked endlessly and traveled the world to enhance the Mountaineers’ role as a major player in collegiate athletics.

In four years on the job, Luck’s accomplishments have been nothing short of spectacular. In the past year alone, he successfully guided the start of construction on a new $21 million baseball park, which will open in 2015 and provide the Mountaineers with one of the best facilities in the Big 12.

Add in his tireless efforts to secure a $75 million bond, start a $25 million fundraising effort and proceed with a $6 million new football team room and Luck’s efforts will show $106 million in facility improvements in the coming years to bring WVU’s aging facilities into the modern times.

His work on the national level is equally impressive and equally valuable to West Virginia University. He was named in 2013 to a three-year term on the inaugural College Football Playoff committee, which will change the face of the college football national championship. He serves on the NFL Player Safety Advisory Committee, chairs the Big 12 Budget and Finance Committee, serves on the board of American Campus Community, Inc., and in May, 2014, was one of the featured speakers at the White House at the Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit through his work with the organization Practice Like Pros.

Among athletic directors, Luck is also one of the most popular speakers on the national circuit. Countless seminars and conventions feature him on panels and discussion groups to tap into his knowledge of the corporate and collegiate world.

Before 2014, his previous three years at WVU were equally impressive and busy. He has hired new coaches to bolster WVU’s level of success.

He guided the completion 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 led WVU into the Big 12 Conference, presided over the best fundraising year in school history (2012), 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.

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 County-Houston 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.

In 2005, Luck was appointed as the first president of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamos, helping that organization to a pair 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 to Houston 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 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 Beta 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 2000, he was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

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 standout volleyball player and graduate of Stanford; Emily, a current student at Stanford and Addison, who attends Morgantown High.

WVUCrossCountry

@WVUCrossCountry

West Virginia University

In 2013, Luck oversaw the reseating of the WVU Coliseum to further increase WVU’s fundraising efforts. He added an 18th varsity sport - men’s golf, which will tee it up in 2015 for the first time since 1982. He outsourced WVU’s media rights to secure a 12-year guaranteed annual revenue source of at least $6 million per year from IMG. However, through all his accomplishments in four years in Morgantown, it all has occurred while he has fostered an atmosphere for achievement and triumph in the classroom and on the field.

Luck, was appointed the University’s 11th Director of Athletics on June 9, 2010 and he was no stranger to success. In fact, Luck’s athletic and professional career has been the epitome of success, first as a record-setting 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.

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West Virginia University

Senior Staff

Keli Cunningham

Matt Borman

Terri Howes

Michael Szul

Michael Fragale

Brady Rourke

Matt Wells

Joe Heskett

Lacey Gibson

April Messerly

Bryan Messerly

Kevin Miller

Ben Murray

Nathaniel Zinn

Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director

Associate Athletic Director/Sports Performance

Senior Associate Athletic Director/ Development

Assistant Athletic Director/Compliance

Head Coaches

Nikki Izzo-Brown Women’s Soccer

Jason Butts Gymnastics

Jon Hammond Rifle

Senior Associate Athletic Director/Sport Administration/SWA

Assistant Athletic Director/Facilities & Operations

Mike Carey

Women’s Basketball

Sammie Henson Wrestling

Jill Kramer Volleyball

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Senior Associate Athletic Director/ Business Operations

Associate Athletic Director/ Communications

Assistant Athletic Assistant Athletic Director/Communications Director/Annual Fund

Sean Cleary

Cross Country/Track

Dana Holgorsen Football

Marlon LeBlanc Men’s Soccer

Associate Athletic Director/ Student Services

Assistant Athletic Director/Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns

Associate Athletic Director/External Affairs

Assistant Athletic Director/Marketing

Sean Covich Golf

Bob Huggins

Men’s Basketball

Miha Lisac Tennis

Jimmy King Rowing

Randy Mazey Baseball

Vic Riggs

Swimming and Diving

Media Information Media Services

The West Virginia University athletic communications office will be available throughout the entire 2014 cross country season to accommodate any media requests. The 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 the cross country contact Nick Arthur.

During the Week

Any member of the media wishing to interview a runner or member of the coaching staff during the week should contact West Virginia cross country contact Nick Arthur, via email (Nicholas.

Arthur@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 athletic communications staff.

Receiving Information

Media members may receive women’s cross country press releases, notes and more via email. To receive such press releases, meet recaps and more, simply email your requests to Nicholas.Arthur@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 meet, WVUsports. com is your place to find the latest statistics.

Not only will you find this season’s stats, but you will also be able to find the WVU record book for some historical perspective.

Athletic Communications Information The West Virginia University athletic communication office is located on the second floor of the Coliseum.

Social Media

MAILING ADDRESS Athletic Communications Office West Virginia University P.O. Box 0877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877

The WVU cross country team is active on Facebook and Twitter. To like the Facebook page, visit facebook.com/WVUCrossCountry. To follow the Mountaineers on Twitter, visit Twitter. com/wvucrosscountry

OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ADDRESS WVU Athletic Communications 3450 Monongahela Blvd., Room 217 Morgantown, WV 26506

CROSS COUNTRY CONTACT Nick Arthur Graduate Assistant Office: 304-293-9916 Cell: 304-542-2073 E-mail: Nicholas.Arthur@mail.wvu.edu

WVUCrossCountry

Grant Dovey Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Ashley Bailey Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Lisa Ammons Business Manager Cheryl Maust Program Assistant Amy Prunty Program Assistant Nick Arthur Graduate Assistant D.J. Jamiel Graduate Assistant Amy Salvatore Graduate Assistant

@WVUCrossCountry

West Virginia University

PHONE INFORMATION Office: 304-293-2821 Fax: 304-293-4105

STAFF Michael Fragale Associate Athletic Director/ Communications Bryan Messerly Assistant Athletic Director/ Communications Joe Swan Director of Athletic Publications Kristin Coldsnow Multimedia Specialist John Antonik Director of Digital Media Mike Montoro Director of Football Communications Shannon McNamara Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

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West Virginia University

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Athletic Facilities

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