There are a lot of new faces for both the Buccaneer Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams, but both teams look to run their best races when the conference meet rolls around.
On the men’s side three of the top five runners are freshmen and the women’s team includes six freshmen amongst the nine-member squad.
“Considering what we have, with the coaching changes, late recruiting, I’m pleased with the way things are going,” said Matt High, cross country/track and field coach.
The Bucs are led by junior Greg Sprowl, who is the only returnee on the men’s side from last year’s squad.
Sprowl’s 26:29 over 8,000 meters is the leading time for the Bucs so far this year.
Behind Sprowl, freshman David Haefner of Hamburg, N.Y., has provided the Bucs with a solid No. 2 runner. “He’s been coming around each race,” High said.
The men’s team has been put in a corner, with only five runners, the minimum number needed to field a team, according to High.
“It’s helped them be a close-knit team, they know each other well, and they workout well together,” he said.
On the women’s side, the Lady Bucs are led by senior Emily Campbell, a former all-conference honoree and the only senior on both squads.
Campbell currently leads the team with a best time of 18:40 over 5,000 meters so far this year.
Campbell has put together a stellar senior campaign so far and currently is ranked 10th in the Southern Conference.
The Lady Bucs have received surprise cross country performances from quarter-milers Roseline Addo and Jennifer Howard, who finished first and second, respectively, in 400 meters in last year’s Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“Roseline has run second for us every meet so far and ran 19:27 at Appy, which is pretty impressive for a 400-meter runner,” High said.
“Jennifer Howard has also stepped up and ran well for us this year,” he said. Howard is the No. 4 runner for the Lady Bucs.
The next meet for both teams will be the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships Oct. 28 at Appalachian State.
“We’ve been competing well and I’m proud of both teams,” High said.
“Our goal is to improve each race and run our best at the conference.

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