Cross Country Opens 2023 Season at Mount St. Mary's

Friday, September 1

Emmitsburg, MD

11 a.m.

George Washington University

Mount St. Mary's 5K Duals

Cross Country Preview @ Mt. St. Mary Image

8/31/2023 9:17:00 AM | Men's Track/Cross Country, Women's Track/Cross Country

WASHINGTON – George Washington cross country gets its season underway on Friday afternoon, heading to Emmitsburg, Md., to compete in the Mount St. Mary's 5K Duals. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

THE EVENT
The race, hosted by Mount St. Mary's, is an annual event in its 17^th year this season. Both the men and women will race an identical 5K course, hosted at the PNC Sports Complex. The men's race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., while the women's race has a tentative start time of 11:30 a.m., which can be adjusted based on the conclusion of the men's race. UMBC claimed first place in the men's race last year, while Howard won the women's title. GW last competed in the event in 2021, dominating the field to claim both the men's and women's team titles. The event also marked history for the GW women as it posted the first perfect score in program history.

THE ROSTER
The GW men's team returns 12 runners from last year's squad that finished third in the Atlantic 10 Championships, the highest finish for the program since 2017. The team also welcomes the addition of eight first-year students who will look to put GW over the top and contend for the A-10 crown this season. Highlighting the group of returners is senior Ryan Fowkes and sophomore Michael Bohlke. Both runners claimed All-Conference honors at last year's A-10 Championships and will look to lead GW to the top of the pack this season.

On the women's side, GW enters the 2023 season with 10 returners from last year's team. The returners will look to build off the program's recent success which includes claiming its first A-10 title in 2021. Along with that, the team has finished fourth place or higher in the conference in each of the past four seasons, cementing themselves as a perennial contender for the league crown each year. Adding to their already talented group, GW will welcome six first-year students to the squad who will look to make an immediate impact this season. Headlining the returners is sophomore Sarah Mitchell. Mitchell also claimed All-Conference honors at last year's A-10 Championships, while also logging the seventh-fastest 5K time in program history.

PRESEASON POLLS
The GW men's team was selected to finish tied for third in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. GW earned 183 points in the poll, tied with George Mason for third-most in the conference. Topping the poll was defending champion Loyola Chicago, who compiled 218 points and 12 of the 15 first-place votes. La Salle registered 206 points and the final three first-place votes to clock in at second.

The women's team was picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. The Revolutionaries tallied 167 points in the poll, slotting themselves firmly ahead of Dayton who finished sixth with a point total of 156. Defending champion Loyola Chicago claimed the top spot in the poll with 222 points and 13 first-place votes. Finishing in second was Richmond with 191 points, while George Mason and La Salle finished tied for third with 181 points. La Salle also finished with the final two first-place votes.