The North Coast Athletic Conference championship held on Nov. 1 in Granville, Ohio will be a great opportunity for the Ohio Wesleyan cross country team to prove their excellence.
The conference championship is the focal point of the season, It’s what everyone has been training for.
Head coach Matter Wackerly thinks the runners are prepared to showcase their talent this Saturday. “Their training really started in June, and has progressed gradually from there. Now, we are reducing the volume and intensity a bit as we prepare for the championship portion of the season.” Wackerly said.
In order to qualify for the All-NCAC team, runners must finish in the top seven at the event. “I think that John Sotos and Zak Geiger can both be first team all NCAC,” Wackerly said. “For the women, I think that Sarah Fowler, Abbey Warth and Kaillie Winston could compete to earn that honor.”
Freshman John Sotos was named DIII Newcomer of the Year at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship on Oct. 10. The award has motivated him and his teammates to keep pushing for more recognition. “A good result at the conference meet would be a big confidence booster for us heading into the regional meet,” Sotos said.
The team is confident of their abilities and are motivated to get a good result this Saturday. “Everyone is excited and ready to show the other teams in our conference what we are made of,” Sotos said.
Ohio Wesleyan has yet to win at the NCAC championship and only has had one individual winner since 1989, Cara DeAngelis in 2011. The women finished second last year while the men finished third in 2012.
“It is the opportunity to represent your team and your school in the best possible manner,” Wackerly said.