The Emory University men's and women's cross country teams open the 2015 campaign on Tuesday (Sept. 1) when they host a meet at Boiling Park in nearby Canton. Some of the teams expected to compete include Berry College, Belhaven University and Agnes Scott College (women). The women’s teams will compete in a 5k starting at 6:30 p.m., while the men will race a four-mile event starting at approximately 7:00 p.m.
The women’s side looks to replace a strong group of seniors who helped the program to its 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA D-III Championships in 2014. However, head coach John Curtin, who begins his 30th season at the helm of the Eagles, has a good balance of veterans and bright newcomers to work with. Fifth-year senior Elise Viox captured all-region kudos last season and ranked among the team’s top-five performers on six occasions. Junior Sophie Cemaj and sophomore Halle Markel both turned in solid campaigns with that saw them each register all-region acclaim, with Markel being tabbed as the team’s Most Outstanding Newcomer Award winner.
Senior Lukas Mees and junior Grant Murphy highlight the returnees for the men’s team, which battled its way to its first region title since 2009 and that made it second straight NCAA Championships appearance. Mees was named the team’s Most Valuable Runner after placing among the squad’s top-three finishers in all eight competitions. A Second Team All-University Athletic Association performer, Mees garnered all-region status following his ninth-place finish out of 201 entries at the NCAA South/Southeast Championships. Murphy scored in all eight Eagle competitions a year ago en route to being named the team’s Most Improved Runner. Murphy brought home all-region honors after pacing the Emory contingent and ranking sixth overall at the NCAA South/Southeast Championships.