Terps Ready for Princeton Invitational
10/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland cross country team will wrap up its regular season slate this Saturday, October 15 at the Princeton Invitational. The Terps will make their return to the course at West Windsor Fields for the first time since 2014, which features a strong pool of teams from across the east coast. The women's 6k race is set to start at 9:00 am.
Maryland, along with American, Binghamton, Columbia, George Washington, Harvard, Hofstra, Iona, LaSalle, Loyola (MD), Marist, Maryland Eastern Shore, McNeese State, Monmouth, NJIT, Penn, host Princeton, Rider, Sacred Heart, St. Joe's, Stony Brook, UMBC and UNCG are all expected to enter teams at this year's race.
a look at the terps
The Terps are two weeks removed from a solid showing at the 43rd annual Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. The team took 18th (541 points) in the field of the Women's College “Gold” 6k race, led by freshman Kathryn Gearhart. The Easton, Md. native has been the No. 1 runner for UMD in all three races this season, taking 77th overall in 21:10 at Lehigh.
Junior Alexandra Lucki and sophomore Jennifer Hedin made an immediate impact for Maryland in their 2016 debuts, as the pair finished as the team's No. 2 and No. 3 runners at Paul Short. Lucki finished 86th in the field with a mark of 21:17, while Hedin took 103rd in her first collegiate race with a time of 21:26.
Seniors Sydney Almeida and Alexa Squirini continue to be steady contributors for the Terps, as the duo has placed in the top-five for UMD in all three meets this season.
Princeton Invite history
Maryland last competed at the Princeton Invite in 2014, when Myah Hicks ('15) led the Terps with an 11th place overall finish. Three current Maryland runners were all in the squad's top-seven that year, including Katie Nappi (23:58), Charde' Barnes (24:20) and Vickie Ajimoko (24:41). The Terps placed 16th in the field in 2013, ad won the event back in 2008 when it was a 10-team meet.
next up
This will be Maryland's final meet before traveling to Minneapolis, Minn. for the 2016 Big Ten Championship Meet on October 30.
-Terps-
