Concord Set to Open Season at Virginia Tech Invite

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's and women's cross country teams prepare to open the 2024 season at the Virginia Tech Invite Friday evening at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course in Blacksburg, Virginia.

SCHEDULE
6:00 p.m. – Women's 4,000-meter race

6:30 p.m. – Men's 6,000-meter race

2023 SEASON REVIEW
Both the men's and women's cross country teams finished third at the Mountain East Conference Championship last October. Senior Madison Cornett and junior Katy Walkup both earned All-Mountain East Conference Second Team in 2023. For Walkup, it was her second time earning all-conference honors in cross country. The CU men had sophomore Braden Ward and senior Logan Zuchelli take home All-MEC Second Team accolades. Zuchelli went on to be named All-Atlantic Region for the third consecutive season. And he earned a bid to the NCAA Division II National Championship Meet.
The Mountain Lion women's team returns eight of their top 10 runners from last season, but is tasked with replacing four-time All-MEC First Team selection Emily Wallace. The Concord men also have a strong core returning for the 2024 season as seven of the top 10 performers from last season's MEC Championship are back on the squad.

VIRGINIA TECH NOTES
Dating back to 2016, the Concord men have never finished worse than fourth on the Virginia Tech 6,000-meter course, including a third-place finish last season. Zuchelli clocked the second-fastest all-time time for a CU runner on the course last season by finishing in 18:34 which was good enough for seventh. Senior Ethan Board in the top 50 of last year's race while Ward was 52^nd.
The CU women also have a rich tradition on the Virginia Tech 4,000-meter terrain, placing in the top five in six of the last seven season, including a runner-up finish two years ago. Cornett's time of 15:53 last season at VT was the 10^th-best time for a CU runner at the 4,000-meter distance as she finished 35^th. Walkup came through in 39^th while senior Erin O'Sullivan and sophomore McGinnis were 46^th and 47^th, respectively.