Cross country prepares for PSAC meet

After starting the season with much uncertainty, the men’s Edinboro cross country team has found a way to keep tradition alive. Currently ranked third in their region and the PSAC, the team finds themselves in position to add another national meet trip to program history.

With the emergence of freshman Bryan Greehrer Edinboro filled their biggest void, the need for a front runner, finding it in the most unexpected fashion. Leading the team throughout the year in his first year at the program, Greehrer has shaped this program’s future after serious doubts following the departure of former head coach Rick Hammer.

On Oct. 22, the team will take on conference rivals Lock Haven and Shippensburg, both ranked ahead of the Scots. Following this past week of competition, the USTFCCCA rankings have moved Shippensburg from 8th to 20th and Haven from 16th to 15th, while Edinboro received their first consideration for the top- 25, receiving their first point of the year.

“Ship and Haven are great teams for us to be keeping our eyes on. They consistently run well at the championship races so we have to bring it if we’re going to expect to compete with them,” Corey Wefing said.

He continued, “ PSACs will be a good race to see where we’re at compared to those teams; it will show us what we need to do in the weeks following.”

Their first race of the championship season will continue to follow suit as an 8-kilometer race, but afterwards their focus must shift towards the longer 10k. Training must be tinkered as well as the mentality going in.

“For going into a 10K we will probably up the length of our workouts and our mindset during workouts knowing we are training now for a 10K,” Wefing said.

The mantra from the beginning for the squad has stayed consistent throughout the year as they look to not only build a tradition of excellence on the course, but also a sense of comradery that perhaps was lost in recent years.

“We just need to run our race and keep them (Shippensburg, Lock Haven) in mind… We’ve really got a wolf pack mentality. We’re all on the line willing to risk it for each other and come championship races, it will be fun to see what we can do,” Wefing said.

As the two-time reigning champion at 800 meters for the PSAC, Wefing, seems to be the key to keep it all together. With emerging newcomers and savvy veterans, Edinboro’s balance and potential for success in the long run remains their best asset.

MIke Lantinen is the Sports Editor for The Spectator and he can be reached at sports.spectator@gmail.com.

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