BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Concord University women's cross country team has been polled fourth in the Mountain East Conference Preseason Coaches' Rankings that were unveiled Thursday afternoon by the league office.
THE POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Charleston (8) |
98 |
| 2. |
Davis & Elkins (3) |
90 |
| 3. |
West Virginia Wesleyan |
85 |
| 4. |
Concord |
73 |
| 5. |
Frostburg State |
59 |
| 6. |
Point Park |
49 |
| 7. |
West Liberty |
48 |
| 8. |
Fairmont State |
43 |
| 9. |
Glenville State |
30 |
| 10. |
Wheeling |
20 |
| 11. |
West Virginia State |
10 |
2024 REVIEW
CU finished seventh at the MEC Championship in 2024 which broke a string of four straight years and eight of the last nine seasons in which Concord had scored a top-three finish at the conference meet. Now-graduated
Madison Cornett was CU's lone representative on the All-MEC Teams as she picked up second team honors from the conference. The Mountain Lions were sixth or better as a team in six of seven competitions last year. Included was the Maroon and Gray winning the Concord Alumni Invite in October as well as a third-place finish at the Virginia Tech Invite in September.
2025 SCHEDULE
Catawba's Fleet Feet Invite is the first meet of the year September 6. The only other meet in September is the Southern Showcase hosted by Jacksonville State in Huntsville, Alabama September 12. The Mountain Lions have two regular-season meets in October: The Greater Louisville Classic (October 4) and the Concord Alumni Invite (October 10). The MEC Championship is slated for October 25 at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Atlantic Regional Championship is November 9 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
THE RETURNERS
Two-time All-MEC performer and senior
Katy Walkup is expected to be at the top of the Concord lineup in 2024. Junior
Sara Turner took a major stride forward from her freshman to sophomore seasons and looks to continue her ascent within the program. Sophomore
Kate Kelly was a mainstay in CU's top seven throughout her freshman season. Juniors
Abbey Londeree and
Charlotte McGinnis also contributed to CU's top seven. Concord's only other senior besides Walkup is
Emma Londeree who battled injuries for much of 2024.
THE NEWCOMERS
Head coach Jonathan Kigel, who begins his first season in charge of the CU running programs, welcomes in five freshmen. The group is made up of
Molly Jones (Bluefield, Va./Graham HS),
Avery Lilly (Hinton, W.Va./Summers County HS),
Violet Wall (Pearisburg, Va./Jefferson Christian Academy),
Larissa Wickline (Rupert, W.Va./Greenbrier West HS) and
Emma Willie (Floyd, Va./Floyd County HS).
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