University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, October 29
Kernersville, NC
UNC Asheville
at
Big South Cross Country Championships
Cross Country readies for Big South Cross Country Championships
10.28.2021 | Cross Country
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville cross country teams will travel to Kernersville, N.C. on Friday to compete at the Big South Cross Country Championships. The men's 8K race will kick things off at 2 p.m., with the women's 5K to follow at 3 p.m. Additionally, for the first time ever, fans will be able to watch both Championship races on ESPN+.
Last Time Out – The Bulldogs closed out their regular season at the USC Upstate Invitational earlier this month. In their final preparation before Friday's races, both Bulldog squads placed third in both races. Clara Wincheski (5th – 18:26.0) and Adam Hessler (10th – 26:16.3) paced their respective teams in Spartanburg.
Callback to Past Championships – UNC Asheville's history at the Big South Cross Country Championships dates back to the mid-1980s. The women's team won four Big South titles, with the last being in 1999, while the men's program is still searching for its first conference crown. This past spring's edition of the Big South's marquee cross country event, the women's team placed third, and the men's squad finished fourth. The third-place finish by the women matched its best placement since 2013, while the men's team notched its fourth straight fourth-place finish.
All-Conference Confidence – The Bulldogs will have the advantage of two former All-Big South runners when they take the course on Friday. Last spring, Hessler finished fifth (24:22) as a freshman, and Wincheski earned All-Conference honors in 2018 and the spring 2021 race. If Wincheski can finish in the top 14 of Friday's 5K race, she'll join former Bulldog greats Michelle Selby, Becky Vonderhaar, Mandy Becker, and Sarah Heisner as runners that have earned All-Big South honors three times.
Quote from Coach – "The goal for our program every year is to be highly competitive at the Big South Conference Championships," said Head Coach Adam Puett. "We have been working hard since June to come out and showcase what we have as a team and I am excited to see our athletes compete. I have been very pleased with how our team has performed during our competitions this year, so I know we are going to be able to put together some solid individual and team performances."
Info on the Championships - Fan attendance is permitted, but all spectators are encouraged to wear masks and practice safe social distancing. Spectators are NOT allowed to enter the start/finish areas and avoid going into team camp spaces. For more information on both races, visit the Big South Championship Central page HERE and click on either cross country links.
How to Follow – In addition to the first-ever ESPN+ broadcast, fans can also follow the live results from each race HERE.
Last Time Out – The Bulldogs closed out their regular season at the USC Upstate Invitational earlier this month. In their final preparation before Friday's races, both Bulldog squads placed third in both races. Clara Wincheski (5th – 18:26.0) and Adam Hessler (10th – 26:16.3) paced their respective teams in Spartanburg.
Callback to Past Championships – UNC Asheville's history at the Big South Cross Country Championships dates back to the mid-1980s. The women's team won four Big South titles, with the last being in 1999, while the men's program is still searching for its first conference crown. This past spring's edition of the Big South's marquee cross country event, the women's team placed third, and the men's squad finished fourth. The third-place finish by the women matched its best placement since 2013, while the men's team notched its fourth straight fourth-place finish.
All-Conference Confidence – The Bulldogs will have the advantage of two former All-Big South runners when they take the course on Friday. Last spring, Hessler finished fifth (24:22) as a freshman, and Wincheski earned All-Conference honors in 2018 and the spring 2021 race. If Wincheski can finish in the top 14 of Friday's 5K race, she'll join former Bulldog greats Michelle Selby, Becky Vonderhaar, Mandy Becker, and Sarah Heisner as runners that have earned All-Big South honors three times.
Quote from Coach – "The goal for our program every year is to be highly competitive at the Big South Conference Championships," said Head Coach Adam Puett. "We have been working hard since June to come out and showcase what we have as a team and I am excited to see our athletes compete. I have been very pleased with how our team has performed during our competitions this year, so I know we are going to be able to put together some solid individual and team performances."
Info on the Championships - Fan attendance is permitted, but all spectators are encouraged to wear masks and practice safe social distancing. Spectators are NOT allowed to enter the start/finish areas and avoid going into team camp spaces. For more information on both races, visit the Big South Championship Central page HERE and click on either cross country links.
How to Follow – In addition to the first-ever ESPN+ broadcast, fans can also follow the live results from each race HERE.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross CountryThursday, June 18
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, February 06