Men's and Women's XC Places in the top 10 at Nationals
The men's and women's cross country team is no stranger to the NJCAA National Championship meet. Over the teams 13 seasons in existence they have attended the meet 10 times, and have had 3 teams finish in the top 10 at those meets. This season, Westmoreland's last as an NJCAA Division III team, saw both the men's and women's team finish in the top 10 for the first time in the same season. With the ladies finishing in 8th place, while the men placed 7th in a very competitive field.
For the ladies, who finished 3rd at the meet in 2020, this was a very strong return for them as a team, after not competing as a full team in 2021. Brynne Davis, Hempfield Area, was the first member of the Wolfpack to cross the line with a time of 23:37, followed quickly behind by Larissa Vozar, Southmoreland, and Makayla Lander, Hempfield Area, at 23:50 and 23:55. Rounding out the scoring for the Wolfpack was Paige Klinger, Franklin Regional, and Ryleigh Kelley, Uniontown, at 25:15 and 26:24. The final runner to cross the line was Chloe Willochell, Greater Latrobe, with a time of 26:40.
The Men's team was led by sophomore Dante Frescura's 19th place finish, earning him his second straight USATFCCCA All American Award. Freshman Frank Benko was next for the Wolfpack with a time of 29:37. Joe Barrick was next at 30:24. Sophomore's Jared Bowman, Peyton Hause, and Micah Conroy came right behind with times of 31:02, 31:48, and 32:10. Rounding out the Wolfpack runners was freshman Robbie Halinka with a time of 35:00. The men's team bested their team best team finish, 13th in 2021, with a 7th place finish this season.
"Looking back at this group, I am very thankful for each one of these young men and women," Said Coach Patrick Comer. "I am so proud of them and all their hard work. I am goin got miss these sophomores tremendously, and I am looking forward to moving to Division II with the students who will be returning next fall!"
This group of sophomores (Bowman, Conroy, Frescura, and Hause) is by far the most decorated group to ever come through our program, with number of meets won, top 10 finishes, All Americans, and a new 8k school record. Congratulations on a great season to both teams, good luck in the future to all the students who will be moving on from the program, and we are looking forward to what the returning students will do in the future.
Women's Team Finish
52 Brynne Davis FR Westmoreland 23:37.35
55 Larissa Vozar FR Westmoreland 23:50.47
57 Makayla Lander FR Westmoreland 23:55.41
66 Paige Klinger FR Westmoreland 25:15.77
72 Ryleigh Kelley FR Westmoreland 26:24.58
73 Chloe Willochell FR Westmoreland 26:40.55
Women's Top 10 Teams
1 Harper College 52
2 Mineral Area College 53
3 Oxford College 55
4 Joliet Junior College 89
5 DuPage 153
6 RC - Gloucester CC 175
7 Hudson Valley CC 179
8 Westmoreland County CC 215
9 Weschester CC 237
10 Lorain County CC 269
Men's Team Finish
19 Dante Frescura SO Westmoreland 28:00.78
45 Frank Benko FR Westmoreland 29:37.73
63 Joe Barrick FR Westmoreland 30:24.66
76 Jared Bowman SO Westmoreland 31:02.85
87 Peyton Hause SO Westmoreland 31:48.16
94 Micah Conroy SO Westmoreland 32:10.97
128 Robbie Halinka FR Westmoreland 35:00.81
Men's Top 10 Teams
1 DuPage 42
2 Mineral Area College 83
3 Joliet Junior College 103
4 Suny Broome 141
5 Harper College 212
6 Suffolk CC 225
7 Westmoreland County CC 249
8 St. Charles CC 268
9 Lorain County CC 281
10 Hudson Valley CC 291