PREVIEW: Cross country teams return to action following off week

It has been six years since the Waynesburg University cross country teams have traveled to Lehigh University to compete on the Paul Short Run course. That will change Saturday, as both the men’s and women’s teams will make their way to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take part in the 2019 Paul Short Run Invitational.

Both teams will look to keep successful seasons going and build up valuable experience for another potential race further down the road. 

“Our regional championship will be held there, and we wanted to get our athletes an opportunity to become familiar with the course,” assistant coach Michelle Cross said. “Though the athletes have not been there, as coaches we are familiar and I have been preparing them. It is actually well known for being a flat and fast course, so our athletes are excited to race there.”

The competition at the invitational will be fierce, but head cross country coach Chris Hardie believes both teams can continue to perform at a high level.

“Both teams are really hungry and focused on some lofty goals,” Hardie said.  “We have seen a little bit more confidence in this young group too – and that makes a big difference in larger races. As for Paul Short specifically, they need to prepare well, be confident and really go for it on Saturday.”

This invitational brings in a lot of competition, as there are three races that can have as many as 50 teams competing in each. For Cross, these types of meets are beneficial largely because they give Waynesburg an opportunity to size up larger schools.
“It is an absolutely massive meet – all divisions are represented and represented well,” Cross said. “But, we really always want to see how we match up against our bigger regional talent.”

Individually, both coaches mentioned freshman Jac Cokley and sophomore Aubrey Wingeart as standouts for their respective teams.

“Aubrey Wingeart is a special runner and is showing signs that she might be ready to get to the next level in her career,” Hardie said. “Jac Cokley is having a great freshman year in our sport. He is mentally tough, and he sets high expectations [for] himself. He motivates himself to be better every day. It’s a unique gift and skill that you cannot teach.”

Both teams have had success this season and are looking to compete for a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship Nov. 2. Cross believes attention to detail will put both teams in a position to do just that.

“Both teams have very specific goals they want to accomplish by the end of the season, and that is where their mind is,” Cross said. “They are doing the little things – eating what they should, sleeping, doing extra repeats at practice, etc. Often it’s the willingness to be faithful in the small things that show big rewards.”

For the women to have a shot at their fourth straight PAC title and the men to compete for one of their own,  both teams need to continue to focus on those little things, Hardie said.

“The men need to put forth a championship type effort over the course of the next five weeks. In that span, they have 12 opportunities through their training to get faster and improve,” he said. “They need to take advantage of every one of those opportunities. The women are in the same boat. They are being pressed by Geneva, so they need to outwork the rest of the conference over the course of the next five weeks.”