Core group of returners will lead CSM cross country
OMAHA, Neb. – A core group of returning runners has College of Saint Mary Cross Country Coach Derek Fey really excited about the upcoming season.
The Flames kick off the 2023 campaign Saturday at the Sunflower Opener, hosted by Dordt University.
Chloe Inhelder returns as CSM's top runner from last year. Inhelder placed 12th individually at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships with a 5K time of 19:21.70 and qualified for the NAIA National Championships. At the national meet she took 141st in a field of 326 runners with a time of 19:16.5.
As a team, the Flames took sixth place at the GPAC Championships last season which matched their best-finish ever at the event. Key returners in that group according to Fey include Jocelyn Farhar, Corinne Mead, Kiley Craft, Brooke Wigdahl and Autumn Simons.
"We return all of our conference runners from last year's highest-placing GPAC team in school history," Fey said. "We are also adding the largest and most talented group of freshmen in our program's history."
Fey has been pleased with what he's seen from his ladies during the offseason and preseason so far.
"This team is already a tight-knit group," Fey said. "At our summer camp in July, it was clear that this group will compete together as a team and make sure their teammates succeed."
Fey said challenges for the squad this year will be competing races at a new distance and battling in an already-tough GPAC field.
"We will be in the same boat as all other conference schools trying to figure out how to race the new 6,000m distance," Fey said. "And, unfortunately, every GPAC school brings back nearly an entire roster from last year. It will be one of the most competitive women's fields in quite some time. We are aiming for a Top Five finish."
Fey is confident the Flames have the pieces to make that happen.
"I expect this group to put the fastest total team time together in school history," he said. "We return everyone from last year's conference team and add really good freshmen depth. I'm extremely excited for this season and know the ladies are as well."