University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Cross Country opens its 2022 season Friday at the Covered Bridge Open
09.01.2022 | Cross Country
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville cross country teams will open their respective 2022 schedules on Friday when they compete at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, N.C. The women's 5k race is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. with the men's 8k race to follow around 5:45 p.m.
Quick look back at 2021 – Both the men's and women's cross country teams posted top-four finishes at the 2021 Big South Cross Country Championships. The men's team placed third, while the women's team finished fourth. Furthermore, Clara Wincheski (fifth) and John Ciprich (12th) both earned All-Big South honors by placing among the top 12 runners in their given races.
Tale of two teams – The two Bulldog teams enter 2022 in very different places. On the men's side, the Bulldogs have several returning runners that have competed for the team multiple seasons. On the flip side, the women's squad returns just one runner (Amanda Orban) that has collegiate cross country experience.
Preseason Predictions – According to the Big South Preseason Polls, the men's team will repeat its third-place finish from a season ago. The women's team, meanwhile, was predicted to finish fifth.
Note from Coach – "I am thrilled to have our teams back to racing cross country again," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Adam Puett. "Both the men's and women's teams had great preseason training, so it will be exciting to see where we are as a program and what we can improve upon."
Teams Competing - The field of teams competing on Friday will include: UNC Asheville, Florida State, Louisville, Mercer, Western Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne, High Point, Lees-McRae, Tennessee Tech, Milligan, Southern Indiana, and West Florida.
Quick look back at 2021 – Both the men's and women's cross country teams posted top-four finishes at the 2021 Big South Cross Country Championships. The men's team placed third, while the women's team finished fourth. Furthermore, Clara Wincheski (fifth) and John Ciprich (12th) both earned All-Big South honors by placing among the top 12 runners in their given races.
Tale of two teams – The two Bulldog teams enter 2022 in very different places. On the men's side, the Bulldogs have several returning runners that have competed for the team multiple seasons. On the flip side, the women's squad returns just one runner (Amanda Orban) that has collegiate cross country experience.
Preseason Predictions – According to the Big South Preseason Polls, the men's team will repeat its third-place finish from a season ago. The women's team, meanwhile, was predicted to finish fifth.
Note from Coach – "I am thrilled to have our teams back to racing cross country again," said UNC Asheville Head Coach Adam Puett. "Both the men's and women's teams had great preseason training, so it will be exciting to see where we are as a program and what we can improve upon."
Teams Competing - The field of teams competing on Friday will include: UNC Asheville, Florida State, Louisville, Mercer, Western Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne, High Point, Lees-McRae, Tennessee Tech, Milligan, Southern Indiana, and West Florida.
Players Mentioned
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