Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #18 Syracuse Women

Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #18 Syracuse Women

Aug 30, 2015 by Gordon Mack
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #18 Syracuse Women




Probable Top Five:

SR Margo Malone (9:16 3K; 15:59 5K; 32:29 10K; 63rd NCAA XC '14)
SR Maura Linde (9:35 3K; 34:12 10K; 140th NCAA XC '14)
JR Rebecca Skodis (16:57 5K; 188th NCAA XC '14)
JR Sydney Leiher (4:25 1500; 10:24 3K Steeple; 198th NCAA XC '14)
SR Angelica Peck (10:48 3K Steeple; 247th NCAA XC '14)
 

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Alexandra Cooper via Henrietta, NY (10:09 3K)
Cassia Hameline via St. Lawerence University (9:48 3K)
Shannon Malone via University of Virginia (4:55 Mile; 9:57 3K)
 

Analysis:

The Syracuse women are returning from finishing 24th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, but bring a lot of potential as well as a solid crew of experienced upper classmen to the cross country scene.

After finishing seventh in the 10K at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Margo Malone is poised to continue leading the Orange into the fall. The 2015 track season proved to be a great step for the incoming senior who clocked personal bests in the 3K (9:16) and 10K (32:29) throughout the spring. Her ACC Conference victory and seventh-place finish at NCAAs in Eugene, Oregon show that she is heading into her strongest season yet.

The remainder of the Orange’s top five returners from last year’s cross country season include Maura Linde, Rebecca Skodis, Sydney Leiher and Angelica Peck. Linde only raced once in the outdoor season, a 10K at the Stanford Invitational, but her 34:12 performance was a personal best. Skodis only raced once during the outdoor season, but comes into cross country with a good amount of experience running as a top contributor for the Orange. Leiher, a steeplechaser in the spring, competed at the NCAA East Preliminaries for a season’s best mark of 10:25, and Peck clocked a personal best in the event in May with a victory in 10:48.

Syracuse is also receiving a number of newcomers including Alexandra Cooper, Cassia Hameline, and Shannon Malone. Cooper, a graduate of Rush-Henrietta High School, comes into the Syracuse squad with a seventh-place finish at the New York State Cross Country Championships. Hameline comes into the team from D3 powerhouse St. Lawrence University, where she finished eighth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Malone, also Margo’s younger sister, recently transferred from Virginia and holds a 10:32 3200m personal best from high school.

From the impact newcomers to the seasoned veterans, the Syracuse women are ready to improve upon their 2014 season.