By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — The App State men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to open the 2024 season on Friday with the Covered Bridge Open at the Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm. Competition will start at 10 a.m. with the women’s 5K. The men’s 6K will follow at 10:40 a.m.
Joining the Mountaineers in the field of competition will be High Point, Mercer, Montreat, South Carolina, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate and Western Carolina.
Last Season
The App State men’s squad clinched its first Sun Belt title since 2019 last fall, totaling 28 points and recording four of the top six finishes, outpacing Arkansas State by 19 points. In his first season as the men’s distance coach, Brad Herbster was voted SBC Coach of the Year by his peers. On the women’s side, the Mountaineers finished fifth in the team standings with 125 points.
At the NCAA Southeast Regional, the men’s team recorded its best team finish since 2014, rounding out the top-10 with 332 points. The women’s squad was represented by Jasmine Donohue, who finished 92nd out of 243 runners.
Roster Review
Nine Mountaineers return on the men’s squad, including redshirt seniors Calbert Guest and Dwayne Lillie, who garnered First-Team All-SBC honors last fall. Joining Guest and Lillie for his senior season is Second-Team All-SBC selection Garrett Bivens. Ten newcomers will join the Mountaineers on the men’s side.
Twelve Mountaineers return on the women’s squad, including Donohue, who returns for her senior season after earning Second-Team All-SBC honors last year. Joining Donohue will be senior Karsyn Kane and sophomore Rhys Ammon, who finished among the top-25 at the conference meet. Eight newcomers join the women’s ranks this fall.
2024 Preseason Polls
In this season’s Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, the men’s team was favored to defend its 2023 title with 80 points and eight first-place votes. The women’s team rose to fourth in the conference preseason poll with 127 points. In the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings, the men’s squad was ranked 12th in the NCAA Southeast Region.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will host their second of three home meets, the Firetower Project Run, on Sept. 13 at the Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm in Boone. The men’s 8K is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the women’s 6K to follow at 6:40 p.m.
