COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland cross country team is set to compete at the 2016 Big Ten Championship this Sunday, October 30 in Minneapolis, Minn. The meet, hosted by the University of Minnesota, will be held at Les Bolstad Golf Course with the women's race set to begin at 11:00 am eastern time. The race will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network starting at 11:00 am (ET).
a look at the terps
Maryland got off to one of its best starts in years from a team standpoint, winning both of its early season meets against local opponents. The Terps started off the season with a victory at the Mount Saint Mary's 5K duals, the first win for UMD at the event since its inception in 2004.
The team followed up its season opening performance with a meet victory at the Salty Dog Invitational on September 10. It was Maryland's first win since 2010 at the annual meet hosted by the Naval Academy, as the Terps edged the Mids by five points with a team score of 43.
Most recently, the team had four runners place inside the top-25 to take third amongst a deep field at the Princeton Invitational on October 15.
Maryland's upperclassmen have been vital to the team's success this season, led by junior Alexandra Lucki. The Ontario, Canada native has been in the top-two for Maryland in both meets she's competed this season, most recently placing sixth in a field of over 200 runners at the Princeton Invite.
Seniors Sydney Almeida and Alexa Squirini have provided a steady nucleus for the Terps throughout the 2016 campaign, as the pair has finished in the top-five in all four meets this season. The duo has finished within five seconds of each other in three meets thus far, and bring a wealth of experience to the table for the Terps.
Freshman Kathryn Gearhart has been impressive in her first collegiate season for the Terps, finishing as the team's number one runner on three different occasions. She started off her Maryland career with a bang, winning the Mt. St. Mary's 5K Duals individual crown with a mark of 18:01.5.
She followed up that performance with a third place finish (23:06.76) at the Salty Dog Invite in the team's first 6K race of the year. Fellow freshman Caroline Augelli has remained in the mix for the Terps all season long, placing at least inside the top-six in all four meets.
big ten championship history
Maryland will race in its third Big Ten Championship Meet since joining the conference in 2014. The Terps finished 14th (445 points) in their inaugural year and 11th (362 points) a season ago, and are in position for a further climb up the team standings in 2016.
Seniors Sydney Almeida, Alexa Squirini and Charde' Barnes, along with junior Alexandra Lucki have all competed twice in their Terrapin careers at the event. Senior Karah O'Halloran and sophomore Kiernan Keller both made their first Big Ten Championship race appearance last season.
Alexandra Lucki owns the best-ever finish for a Maryland runner at the event (2015 – 56th), and will be primed to surpass her best-ever finish this season.
in the rankings
Maryland was ranked 9th in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the latest USTFCCCA Regional cross country rankings released on October 17. The Terps started the year tabbed 12th in the Mid-Atlantic.
next up
The Terps will head to State College, Pa. for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on November 11. UMD turned in a 13th place finish last year at the race.
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