For the first time in Montclair State University’s history, cross country is ranked in the top 10 of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Metro Region Rankings.
Although the cross country team has only run in two meets so far, their effective performances have placed them eighth in the USTFCCCA Metro Region Rankings. This ranking is a first in the program’s history, dating back to its reestablishment in 2015.
Cross country is ranked in the top ten of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Metro Region Rankings
Photo courtesy of Matt DeLuca Photo credit: Matt DeLuca
It is the first cross country season for head coach Peter Tuohy with assistant coaches Rich O’Connor and Jocelyn Anderson. They coached the women’s outdoor track & field team together but never for Montclair State’s cross country team. Under their direction, the team already made history before the halfway mark of the season.
The Red Hawks opened their first two meets of their season at Stockton University, the home course of the NCAA Metro Regional Championship this year. This year, the team consists of 18 women.
At the first Stockton Season Opener, Montclair State placed third among all teams. Junior Abigail Churchill was first for the Red Hawks. She placed in the top 10 at the meet in ninth place, earning a medal.
Runners make their way through the course.
Photo courtesy of Matt DeLuca
Churchill said that her strong results in the opening meet helped her to look forward to the season as a whole.
“I was very happy to walk away with a medal,” said Churchill. “It is making me very excited for the rest of the season. I am very happy with the coaching that has been going on and I trust it.”
Following Churchill was senior Denisse Aguilar, who was not far behind in 15th. Subsequently, Julie Murphy (18th), Aubrey Johnson (19th), and freshman Liliana Snyder (21st) rounded out the top five finishers for Montclair State.
Following the success of the first meet, the coaching staff and the cross country team were confident in their abilities to place high again at their next meet in two weeks, and they achieved that goal. The second meet of the season was the Osprey Open. This meet included two races for the girls, the Open Race and the Championship Race.
Montclair State finished 6th as a team.
Photo courtesy of Matt DeLuca Photo credit: Matt DeLuca
Caitlin Witters was first for the Red Hawks, placing 16th overall in the Open Race. Rounding out the top five were junior Mackenzie Cochran, junior Kelly Witters (25th), freshman Mary Pichette (29th), and freshman Amber Shea (35th). These ladies, with the help of senior Kayla McAdams, freshman Maeve Weber, and senior Ashton Wiseley, placed 4th overall in the Open Race.
For the second-straight race in a row, Churchill retook the lead for the Red Hawks in 18th place in the Championship Race. Subsequently was Aguilar who was very close behind in 20th. In the same order from the previous meet, junior Julie Murphy (40th), graduate Aubrey Johnson (43rd), and freshman Liliana Snyder (62nd) rounded out the top five again. These athletes, with the help of freshman Jordan Bohrer, junior Brianna Roddy, freshman Mia Gerace and freshman Alissa Taylor, placed the Red Hawks sixth overall.
Tuohy said that being ranked for the first time in program history is a major leap forward for the program.
“We have a big jump this year in numbers for the team and so far, things have been going great,” Tuohy said. “I have been really pumped from the last two meets and I loved how we got ranked for the first time and how the team got recognition, that is important.”
First-year head coach Rich O'Connor.
Photo courtesy of Matt DeLuca
Montclair State University’s Women’s Cross Country’s stellar performances in their first two meets of the season were able to catch the eyes of the USTFCCCA. From being unranked in the preseason to continuously in the top 10, the cross country team looks prepared for success for the rest of the season.
