GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's and women's cross country teams are geared up to begin their seasons next Wednesday, September 1, when they travel to Johns Hopkins University to race in their opening competition. The September 1 competition will be the first time the Falcons compete against live competition as the 2020 season was competed on a virtual basis. The men's squad looks to win its third MAC Championship since 2018, while the women's team is looking a strong showing in their first "traditional" season in nearly two years.
See below for a quick preview of the 2021 cross country seasons:
Rosters and Coaches
The men's team is composed of eight seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, and four freshmen. Of the upperclassmen on the roster, all 15 are returners from the 2019 team, forming a strong core of leadership and experience. The Falcons welcome 10 newcomers to live action: four first-years and six sophomores who competed virtually last season.
The women's team features one graduate student competitor, eight seniors, 11 juniors, nine sophomores, and four first-years. Messiah women's cross country welcomes back 14 runners from the 2019 conference championship squad, welcoming 13 new faces to live competition. Of the 13 new runners, nine are sophomores, and four are first-year students.
Returning to the helm of Messiah cross country is head coach
Dale Fogelsanger, who enters his 28th season with the program. Fogelsanger also coaches the men's and women's track and field teams at Messiah and has claimed a total of seven MAC Championships in cross country (three men's titles, four women's titles). Joining Fogelsanger will be returning coaches
Andrew Springer and
Emily Cornelius, as well as a first-year graduate assistant coach,
Dillon May.
Schedule
Both the men's and women's cross country teams have identical schedules this season, both competing in their first competition at Johns Hopkins. Following their season-opener at Johns Hopkins follows the Dutchmen Cross Country Invite 5K at Lebanon Valley College (9/11), the Long-Short Invitational 6K at Dickinson College (9/25), the Mike Woods Invitational at SUNY Geneseo (10/2), the DeSales University Invitational 6K at DeSales University (10/9), and the Aubrey Shenk Invitational at Gettysburg College (10/16). The MAC Championship 6K will take place on Saturday, October 30, in Centerville, Pa., at DeSales.
The Falcons will look to race strong this season with the coalition of strong leadership from upperclassmen and the development of their underclassmen.
Follow Messiah's cross country 2021 seasons right here at GoMessiah.com!
