Cross Country Starts Preseason Workouts

The SU cross country team began preseason workouts today in preparation for the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate on Sept. 7. Follow along with updates on the Preseason Central page.

2013 Season Outlook

The Orange cross country team will enter the 2013 season with both reliable veterans and young talent looking to make their mark in SU's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's team returns all of its record six All-BIG EAST selections from last season, including redshirt senior Griff Graves, who was a key contributor in winning the 2012 conference title, finishing 13th overall. Martin Hehir, a redshirt sophomore, was the individual champion at the BIG EAST Championship, and will be looking to continue his success in the ACC this season. Senior Robert Molke, who finished in fourth place at the conference championship, junior Ryan Urie, who finished in ninth at the same event, senior Joseph Whelan, who finished a team-best 55th at NCAA Championships, and Graves will be the go-to veterans for the Orange. Hehir, Molke, Urie and Whelan were also all named to the 2012 All-Region team.

The men add seven newcomers to the roster included the much anticipated harrier out of Manlius, N.Y. Nick Ryan, who leaves high school with a laundry list of titles and records, including two state titles in cross country, two selections as the Gatorade cross country boys Runner of the Year and a fifth place finish at nationals.

The SU women lose three-time All-BIG EAST and two-time All-Region selection Sarah Pagano, who was the lone female competitor for the Orange at the 2012 NCAA Championship meet. Aside from losing Pagano, the Orange returns all of its runners from the 2012 season. Junior Katherine Fleischer had a solid 2012 season, taking the second-best team finish at NCAA Regionals (31st place). Senior Alexandra Clinton took at 26th place finish at the BIG EAST Championship and looks to be a team leader in 2013. Six newcomers will be added to the women's ranks this season.

The schedule for the 2013 season does not look much different than seasons past, despite move to the ACC. The Orange will run in all of the same races as last season except for the Toledo Bubble Buster and add four new races. SU cross country will try its hand at the Boston Inter-Regional race, the Roy Griak Invitational, the Princeton Invitational and against Cornell and Army, capping it off with the ACC Championship and NCAA regionals.\

Looking Back at 2012

The SU men's cross country team captured its third BIG EAST title last season and had its first ever individual conference champion in Martin Hehir. Four runners finished in the top 10 at the race and six finished in the top-15, qualifying them for the All-Conference team.

The Orange men continued their success at the NCAA Northeast Regional where they placed third overall to qualify for the NCAA Championship race. SU finished the season with a 15th place finish at the NCAA finals.

The women's team took sixth at the BIG EAST Championship and sixth in the NCAA Northeast Regional, which ended the 2012 season for the squad. Sarah Pagano was the lone qualifier for the NCAA Championship race from SU. She ended her collegiate cross country career with a 63rd place finish.

Syracuse University Athletics

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