As Next Step Women Look to Mideast Regional
After winning the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship for the first time in program history, the Waynesburg University women’s cross country team’s biggest challenge is yet to come.
Congratulations to the @PAC_Athletics champion Yellow Jackets – 1st WXC championship is school history. A win with 21 total points. pic.twitter.com/aPrGo4NV22
— Yellow Jacket Sports (@YJ_Sports) October 29, 2016
The cross country team will travel to Center Valley, Pennsylvania, Saturday, Nov. 12, to compete in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regionals.
A year ago, Waynesburg finished 11th out of a field of 50 teams in the regionals. This year, head coach Chris Hardie said that ending Grove City’s streak was not his prominent focus.
“We did something we haven’t done in 27 years this weekend,” said Hardie. “In two weeks, I think we can do something we haven’t seen in 50 years here or a 100 years, so that’s kind of what the goal is.”
A team has not qualified for a national pass in countless years at Waynesburg University, and the women’s cross country team has a possibility of doing so. Hardie said he believes the team’s high water mark could be found at regionals.
“For this current team, my vision has always been regionals,” said Hardie. “I still think that’s our peak. We’re going to try to do something that not many teams in Waynesburg sports history have ever done and that’s qualify a team for a national berth.”
To make a national seed, Hardie said the team would need to finish within the top four teams at the regional meet. The Yellow Jackets enter as the No. 6-ranked team in the Mideast Region by the United States Track & Field and Cross country Coaches Association. Hardie said his goal is for the team to finish at least in fifth, a goal he heightened later into the season.
“The best we ever did was eighth in the region,” said Hardie. “That was my goal: going to try and get top eight. About midseason, [assistant coach] Michelle Cross and I changed that to top five; we felt that was realistic. I still think that is realistic, but that’s also our stretch goal.”
However, even if the team does not qualify for a national pass, Hardie said individually the team has the ability to pass a few runners on.
“If we don’t make it as a team, I do think we have a couple of chances to make it individually,” said Hardie. “[Seniors Emily and Katie Latimer could], and I think [sophomore] Teghan Simonton has a really good shot; she was All Mid-East as a freshman last year. That’s really hard to do.”
With a two-week break between the PAC Championships and the regional meet, Hardie said the biggest focus for the team has been improving their kick.
“We’re just sharpening the sword,” said Hardie. “That’s the phrase we use a lot. They are at a high level already – we are just trying to get them a little bit faster for the start and the kick. When you get to a big race like regionals every spot, especially in the last 400 meters, is huge.”
Emily Latimer said that another challenge with preparing for the regional meet is the mental struggles the team will have to face.
“The biggest challenge preparing for regionals is going to be the mental aspect,” said Latimer. “As long as we keep our stress levels down and continue to work hard, we will do great.”
For Latimer, as a senior, it could possibly be her last race with the Yellow Jackets Saturday, Nov. 12. Regardless of the outcome, however, Latimer said if every runner competes at the highest level, she would be satisfied.
“We are a team that won’t give up,” said Latimer. “If every runner can cross the finish line and tell me they gave it their all, then I will always be proud.”