BOONE, N.C. - The App State men's and women's cross country teams look to open the season strong with the Covered Bridge Invitational on Friday. The men's 6k will begin at 9 a.m. at the State Farm Field, followed by the women's 5k, which will begin at 9:35 a.m.
Both the men's and women's teams finished last season on a high note, sweeping the Sun Belt Conference Championships, with the men winning it for the third consecutive year and the women becoming back-to-back champions.
Returning to coach the teams are Brad Herbster and Annie Richards. Coach Herbster has won Sun Belt Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year three consecutive seasons, while Coach Richards has earned the honor in back-to-back years.
14 athletes received recognition for their efforts last season, including 12 returners for this upcoming season. App State not only swept Coach of the Year, but also swept Freshman of the Year awards as Noah Martinson and Tessa Massa took home the accolade.
Junior Henry Stark looks to continue his momentum as he took home the Sun Belt Men's Elite Award, while also earning First Team All-Conference honors. Joining him in first team honors from last year's returning group are Martinson and Tate Shore. The pair of juniors Memphis Rich and Thomas Wlazlowski earned Second Team honors, and Aaron Kidd was named Third Team All-Conference. Wlazlowski and Shore also earned Sun Belt Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors last season.
The women's team had five athletes earn all-conference honors, with Massa and Josie Jackson earning Second Team All-Conference honors, while Savannah Moore, Bre Budzinski and Elizabeth McCart earned Third Team All-Conference honors. Both sides rounded out the season by having eight underclassmen earn end-of-season awards.
The rosters have added 10 new athletes: six on the men's side and four on the women's side. The two transfers joining the program are junior Baylor Wolfe and senior Ethan Stovall. The incoming freshmen include:
Most of the championship-winning roster is returning from last year, including:
For the men's side, returning is:
After the Covered Bridge Invitational, the Mountaineers will travel to Huntsville, Ala., to compete in the Southern Showcase on Friday, Sept. 18.
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