CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson cross country teams are set to toe the line tomorrow morning at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., for the ACC Cross Country Championships. This will be the third and final meet of the season for both teams, with the men set to race 8k starting at 10 a.m., while the women will race 6k at 11 a.m.
The men have raced 8k in both of their meets this season, while the women have raced once at 5k and once at 6k.
The Tigers’ men’s team will be the first on the course and will be led by senior John Ward. Ward has been nothing short of excellent in 2020, having served as Clemson’s top runner in both races and earning a personal best at each meet. Marlin Young will join Ward at the front of the pack and will look to be pushed by Jackson Leech as the three race to score low for the Tigers. Look for Conor McCabe and Michael Smith to round out Clemson’s top five, with Michael Fabiano, Danny Shaughnessy and Samuel Garringer in close pursuit to complete the team’s scoring effort.
The women’s team will take to the 6k course looking to capitalize on the positive momentum gained at the Blazer Classic on Oct. 16. Laurie Barton and Lauren Hayes have each finished as Clemson’s top runner at one meet this season, while Josie Wirtz, Amelia Jones and Mikie Harris have been consistent contributors to the team’s top five. At the Blazer Classic, middle-distance specialist Andrea Foster finished fifth on the team and walked away with a sizable personal best at 6k. The women finished second overall at the meet, earning their best team result of the season.
This will be the first time since 2016 that the ACC Championships are held at WakeMed Soccer Park. During the 2016 Championships, Clemson’s Evie Tate showcased excellent sportsmanship by joining Louisville’s Rachel Pease in helping Boston College’s Madeline Adams across the finish line. Later that year, Tate and Pease were named recipients of the NCAA’s Sportsmanship Award for their actions at the meet.
Both races are set to be broadcast on ACCNX. Coverage will start promptly at 9:55 a.m. for the men’s race and will then resume at 10:55 a.m. for the women’s 6k. All-ACC distinction will be given to the top 21 finishers in each race, while the top true freshman male and female finisher will be named ACC Freshman of the Year. Live results can be accessed here.
For all of the most up-to-date information regarding Clemson’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs, be sure to follow @ClemsonTrackXC on Twitter.
