Summer Academic Honors, XC Preview, and Insight from Jess McClelland (Sr. - Stafford, VA)

From Jess McClelland:

After the first week of being back on campus and practicing with the team, I could not be more excited about this cross country season. We lost a lot of talent last year for various reasons but have gained great depth on our team after the addition of this year’s freshman class. Our first workout all together as a team, and multiple runs since, have proven this fact and shown that we have the potential to work really well together. It has been great to see some of the freshman pushing the seniors and other returners who have been leading the workouts and knowing I have so many teammates to run with and push me. It’s also comforting to know that we do have the numbers and the depth that we have been lacking throughout past seasons. We have naturally been running in packs during every practice which is a big improvement over last year when we struggled just to string a couple girls together. Our girls already seem to be clicking with each other and learning how to motivate and push each other at practice.

Another reason I have been waiting for this particular season to arrive is that CNU is now officially part of the Capital Athletic Conference. This will provide a more competitive environment for our team and make us work harder if we want to keep winning the conference championship meet. This challenge will also help to better prepare us for the regional meet on November 16th. In the past, we have consistently finished in the top five teams at the regional meet. My freshman year our women placed third, missing the National meet by only one place. Our women’s program has never advanced to the national meet as a team before and we are determined to change that this year. We also have the added excitement of hosting the regional meet on our home course and letting all the other teams travel to us.

Between now and then however, we will look to just take it one day at a time and focus on putting in our best efforts today and leave tomorrow for tomorrow. It has been great to be back at CNU and able to finally see and run with my teammates again. And I’m not the only one who feels that way; there has been a constant buzz of excitement among the team since we arrived. I am excited about the freshman that we brought in this year and cannot wait to see the team in action for the first time at our opening meet just one week away. I have high expectations of what our team can accomplish this year; and feel confident going into my senior season knowing that this is that team that will be there with me. Go Captains!

Jessica McClelland

Senior

Stafford, VA (North Stafford HS)

Biology Major

From CNUsports.com:

Kalee Hammerton among Six Captains to Earn VaSID Academic All-State Accolades

Enuma Ezenwa and Jennifer Westerholm Earn USTFCCCA National Academic Honors

Christopher Newport Releases 2013 Cross Country Schedule

http://cnusports.com/news/2013/7/15/XC_0715133330.aspx