Through four races this season, a trend is emerging: Sophomore runners are leading the Bobcat pack on the course.
In the past two races for the men’s and women’s cross-country teams, a sophomore runner has finished in the top 10 spots overall while also capturing a leading spot for the team.
Those standout sophomores — women’s runners Juli Accurso, Emily Pifer, Allison Stillwell and Melissa Thompson and men’s runners Nick Hissrich and Chase Robinson — have been arguably the most crucial part of the program’s early success this season.
The teams have fared well in each meet which they have competed. The women finished second only to top-ranked Georgetown in State College, Pa.
Coach Clay Calkins said he is very pleased that young runners are able to lead an entire team.
“This class was one of the top recruiting classes we have had. We knew coming out of recruitment that they had great potential,” Calkins said. “It isn’t that surprising to me that they’re already leading because they do great things year-round and have really capitalized with each opportunity.”
In the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational two weekends ago, six of Ohio’s top seven sophomore runners placed for the team against the toughest competition they have faced so far this season.
Accurso, Pifer and Stillwell all finished in the top 15 overall and Robinson finished fourth overall to lead the men.
“Being part of such a strong class is so exciting because we are continually improving,” Accurso said. “The upcoming years look very promising for the team. We realize we have the potential to accomplish many goals, which is so rewarding.”
Many of the sophomore runners said the ability to succeed on the cross-country course, as well as the friendships they have formed, has reaffirmed their decisions.
“We have a unique chemistry,” Thompson said. “Juli, Emily, Allison and I are all best friends. We train together every day, but we aren’t very competitive with each other. We enjoy being with each other, and it doesn’t matter who leads the pack in a practice or who finishes higher in meets.”
Though the men’s team is a veteran-laden group, Robinson and Hissrich have both played a large role for the Bobcats.
“The next few years are going to be extremely exciting,” Accurso said. “I think we all can’t wait to see what we are able to accomplish within the next few years, but we are still enjoying our current accomplishments as a team.”
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