2015 Season in Review Cross Country
The University of Dallas cross country team’s had strong performances throughout the season by its top runners both on the men’s and women’s side. The UD men’s cross country team would take fourth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship. Senior Ryan McAnany (Kansas City, Kan.) would represent the Crusaders in the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship where he earned 37th out of 203 with a 27:23 minute 8K.
On the UD women’s cross country team, freshman Bridget Kennedy (San Antonio, Texas) would shine by leading the individuals on the squad in six of seven competitions. She notched 10th place in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Championship to garner Second Team All-American Honors. Dallas would earn third place for the second-straight year in the conference championship with 97 points in the 6K.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
(Men’s XC)
- The first meet of the fall campaign reflected Dallas earning one of three third place finishes at the Texas Lutheran Invitational with 72 points. Besides the conference championships, UD earned third at the Codfish Bowl with 45 points.
- McAnany raced the fastest times in all seven competitions, and boasted the highest time at the Gerald Richey Invitational with 16:09 time in the 5K. That time ranks second in the SCAC Top Times of 2015 for that course length. His greatest 8K time was NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship. He did highlight top five finishes at the TLU Invitational (2nd), Gerald Richey Invitational (4th in DIII), Texas Division III Championship (4th), and University of Dallas Invite (5th).
- Two other seniors on the roster for Dallas: Javier Secaira (Tacoma, Wash.), Jack Grubner (Needham, Mass.), contributed throughout year. Secaira’s season-best 17:12 time in the University of Dallas Invite gave him 13th. Grubner totaled a 17:43 time at the same race for season person record (PR).
- Freshman Rafael Medina (Waco, Texas) had a strong debut of 18:14 minute time in 5K at Texas Lutheran Invitational for second highest on squad and seventh overall for highest finish in career.
(Women’s XC)
- Kennedy ran a career 5K PR with a time of 19:39 minutes at the University of Dallas Invitational and earned second place overall. Her PR in her rookie season for the 6K was 24:05 at the Texas Division III Championship for third overall and second out of DIII rankings. That final time etched the San Antonio, Texas, native, third in the UD Women’s Cross Country record books for that category.
- Dallas as a team performed best at its home competition on the campus in Irving, Texas, by totaling 53 points and was seven behind taking first. Senior Ruth Fritz (Boise, Idaho) ran a season PR of 20:34 and earned sixth place. Freshman Caroline Schemel (Greencastle, Pa.) notched her highest finish of 12th with a PR of 21:13. Senior Emma Polefko (Cypress, Texas) was right behind at 14th and a PR of 21:31.
- The Lady Crusaders opened the fall with a third place finish at the Braveheart Invitational in Tyler, Texas by tallying 95 points. Schemel and Polefko paced Dallas with 11th and 12th. Another third place finish for the Navy and White was at the Texas Division III Championship and SCAC Championship.
- In the team’s first 6K of the year at the Texas Division III Championship, Kennedy won third to lead UD with a season PR 24:05 in her first ever 6K. Fritz added a 6K season PR of 25:15 for 12th.
RELATABLE LINKS
2015 SCAC CROSS COUNTRY TOP TIMES (MEN’S)
2015 SCAC CROSS COUNTRY TOP TIMES (WOMEN’S)
2015 POSTSEASON AWARDS (MEN’S)
- 2015 All-SCAC First Team – McAnany
2015 POSTSEASON AWARDS (WOMEN’S)
- 2015 USCAA 2nd Team All-American – Kennedy