Wildcat cross country announces 2018 schedule

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

Wildcat cross country announces 2018 schedule

8/7/2018 10:44:00 AM | Cross Country

ABILENE – Abilene Christian cross country will run five of this season's seven races within the Lone Star State, starting with the Wildcats' Naimadu Classic on Saturday, Sept. 1. Races begin at 8:30 a.m.

From there, ACU's harriers will visit Texas Tech on Friday, Sept. 14, NCAA South Central Regional host Texas A&M on Sept. 22, and Incarnate Word on Oct. 6 to conclude the regular season.

Championship season starts with the Southland Conference meet on Friday, Oct. 26 at McNeese State followed by regionals in College Station (Nov. 9). Should any Wildcats qualify for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 17, they'll be heading to Madison, Wis.

Third-year cross country coach Jarvis Jelen has 15 student-athletes returning to this year's program led by all-conference honoree Carnley Graham, who placed sixth last season (21:25.3) in helping the ACU women win their second Southland title in three years.

A junior from Prosper, Texas, Graham is one of 10 returning female runners. She comes back with classmate Lindsey White and a large sophomore group composed of Briahna Gerlach, Hannah Marut, Taylor Reinhold, Alyssa Schroeder, Allison Taylor, Soren Underwood, Chanda Westbrook and Aubrey Young.

Underwood recently represented the Wildcats in Brazil at the inaugural FISU America Games, winning a bronze medal with the USA Team's 4x400-meter relay.

Three freshmen round out the women's roster: Chase Nolan, Loren Rivera and Sarah Wagler.

Coming back on the men's team are senior Travis Nichols, junior Drew Cummings and sophomores Seth Crockett, Conner Miller and Jordan Mossinger. Ryan Cleary exhausted his cross country eligibility, but will compete once more during the 2019 track and field season.

The Wildcats further bolstered its men's roster with the additions of freshmen Levi Chambers, Austin Christmas, Colton Gates, Kevin Kipkosgei, Carter Leslie and Grant O'Neil.