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CROSS COUNTRY
PREVIEW
PETER
SEUFER
KAYLA
RICHARDSON
C
oming off the greatest year in school history, including three ACC team
track and field titles, what could the Virginia Tech men’s and women’s
track and field and cross country programs possibly do for an encore?
Why, start by winning the ACC cross country titles, of course.
The Tech men and women open the 2017 cross country season Sept. 1 when
they participate in the Hokie Invite held at the Buford Meredith Cross Country
Course. With a lot of his key runners back, distance coach Ben Thomas is
optimistic on his teams’ chances, particularly on the men’s side.
A year ago, the Tech men entered the season with high expectations, but
Thomas decided to redshirt Neil Gourley, and then the Hokies lost Patrick
Joseph to an injury and Peter Seufer to mononucleosis. Still, Thomas and
assistant Eric Johannigmeier managed to piece together a team that finished
fourth at the ACC Championships.
“If you had told me before the season that we would have gotten in the top
four at the ACC meet without those three guys, then I would have taken it and
been happy with it,” Thomas said. “Now hopefully, we can get those guys in the
fold. We did lose Andrew Gaiser to graduation, but everyone else returns, and
we have the potential to have five all-regional guys. Any time you have that, you
have a good chance at making the NCAAs.”
The men’s team features a deep and talented squad, while the women’s squad is pinning its hopes
on a senior and a collection of young runners
by
Jimmy Robertson
squads ready to
make runs
at ACC crowns
CROSS
COUNTRY
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