COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland cross country team will kick off its 2018 season this Friday, August 31 at the Mount Saint Mary's 5k duals in Emmitsburg, Md. The team returns as a stronger version of the returning group, featuring a tight group of upperclassmen leaders and additional newcomers. Head coach Andrew Valmon, now in his 16^th season with the program, has high hopes for this year's squad.

"We will look to build as the season progresses and perform at our peak during championship season," said Valmon. "Each competition is an opportunity for our women to strategically work towards our goals."

RUNNERS TO WATCH
Senior Emily Bracher returns as the leader of the pack in her final season in College Park. She finished as one of the top two Terps in each event she competed in last season. Her individual win at the Salty Dog Invitational was the first of her career and helped power Maryland to a second place finish as a team.
Junior Brit Lang returns after an impressive sophomore campaign, finishing in the top three in four events last season. Sophomore Christine Laurie also impressed as a freshman last season and hopes to stay in the front of the pack again in her second season. Junior Kathryn Gearhart has also had an excellent preseason and looks to be a leader this season.
The group will also get support from Paige Novak, Molly Barrick, Courtney Mann, Caroline Augelli, Gaby Go, Kiernan Keller, Emily McAllister, Maria Castellanos and Dallyssa Huggins.
Maryland welcomes five newcomers to the fold this year, with Alexa Woltjen, Anna Latzko, Jasmine Tiamfook, Mackenzie Morgan and Yasmine Kass set to make their Terrapin debuts.

SCHEDULE
The Terps open their season this Friday, August 31 at the Mount Saint Mary's 5k duals in Emmitsburg. Maryland will be back out on the course the following weekend on September 8 to again faceoff against local competition at the Stevenson Invitational in Owings Mills, Md. The following week, the Terps compete at the Panorama Farms Invite in Charlottesville, Va. on September 14.
After a two-week break, the Terps return to action at the 45th annual Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh in Bethlehem, Penn. on September 29. The Princeton Invite on October 12 will serve as a lead in for the postseason, when Maryland then travels to Lincoln, Ne. for the Big Ten Championship Meet on October 28.
The Terps will head to State College, Penn. for this year's NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Meet on November 9 before setting their sights on the 2018 NCAA Championship in Madison Wisconsin on November 17.