Going the Distance -- UofL women's Cross Country adds talented freshmen -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

NINE FRESHMEN, EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHT CARDS CROSS COUNTRY ROSTER

From all intents and purposes, Louisville cross country head coach Dale Cowper is taking the 2016 women's Cross Country season very seriously. The sport is one that we haven't given a whole lot of coverage to here at CARDINAL COUPLE over the years...they only run in four meets in a 45 day span before the Pre-Nationals, ACC Championship, NCAA Southeast Regional and NCAA Championship and only one of those is in Louisville. They were not a part of the Fall women's sports Media Day we recently attended. 

Nevertheless, they are one of the 2016 Fall Sports on campus and have also added an assistant coach in Jenna Wrieden. Jenna comes to the 'Ville after serving as head coach for High Point's Cross Country squad. She finished 14th in the NCAA Championships in her college days at Arizona State. 

Cowper notes: 

"Jenna is a proven recruiter with a strong sports science background. She has been mentored by some of the top distance in the NCAA and her presence will have a huge impact upon our program." 

She'll work with 17 runners...nine of which are freshmen. Five of the freshmen are from Kentucky and the roster features two freshmen from Louisville in Meghan Carrico (Assumption)...who finished 36th. in the State Meet and Labreea Hill (Manual). 

Claire Noser, a senior from Highlands Ranch, CO. is the most experienced runner returning for the Cards. She won the Evansville meet last season, finished 30th. in the Pre-Nationals and 55th. in the ACC Championships.

The Cards were 13th. (out of 15) in the ACC Championships...so Cowper, Wrieden and the runners have some work cut out for them this fall in get among the ACC elite. The Cards start it off on Sept. 3rd in the Dayton Flyer 5K and will run two weeks later in Vanderbilt's Commodore Classic. The lone home meet will take place at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park on Oct 1st. with the Greater Louisville Classic. They'll travel to Wisconsin on Oct 14th. for the Wisconsin Invitational and the Pre-Nationals are the next day in Terre Haute, IN. 

Louisville was home of the 2015 NCAA Championships and got a lot of favorable press and comments for hosting the event. The New Mexico team came in and won the championship. Four ACC schools (Virginia, NC State, Notre Dame and Syracuse) were ranked in the top 20 for 2015 Cross Country. 

Here's hoping the Cards are on their way to making some national noise on the collegiate cross country scene. A nationally known running course is in place and the NCAA Championships will return to Louisville in 2017.The coaching appears to be solid. There is depth on the roster...although only two of the student-athletes are from out-of-country and none from the running hot-bed that is Kenya...

It's time for the Cards to break out of the pack and be a front-runner. 

paulie
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