Cross-Country team looks to race to top of Big West
The Utah State University men’s and women’s cross country teams have spent countless hours preparing for their opening meet Saturday at the Idaho State Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho.
The men’s team will be led this year by returning senior Mitch Zundell.
Zundell took 22nd place his sophomore year at the Utah State Invitational. A year later, he won the race with a time of 26:25.
Zundell placed fourth at the Big West Conference Championships and 14th in the NCAA Mountain Regional meet. The latter race qualified Zundell for the NCAA National Championships where he took 147th.
He accomplished all this during his junior year of competition.
Zundell led the team in three of five meets last year.
Zundell’s accomplishments echo the effort and motivation of fellow team members.
Seniors Brick Bergeson and Demetrio Cabanillas have both shown promise to be top runners for the Aggies.
Steve Prescott is a returning sophomore who exploded in the Big West Championships last year to take third place. He placed 38th in the NCAA Mountain Regional meet.
Jesse Hodges and David Kunnas will also be returning with competitive experience. They placed fifth and sixth, respectively, at the Utah State Invitational last year.
On the women’s side, Melanie McClellan returns for her senior year to captain the team. She has a strong backing from fellow senior runners Shae Messersmith and Amber Tubb.
Christi Howell returns for her sophomore year after blazing through her first year of college competition.
Howell finished 29th in the Big West Championships after an 8th-place finish at the Pier Park Invitational – a meet the women’s team took first place in.
Howell also finished 15th at the Utah State Invitational. She was the third Aggie finisher in three of four meets. She finished behind former seniors Rebekah Thornley and Beka Leffler.
Many incoming freshman will be looked to bring excitement and a pleasant surprise at the meets.
Freshman Stephanie Bierwolf may be one of those surprises.
Bierwolf joins the Aggie cross country team after a successful career at Bountiful High School. Bierwolf says she loves Utah State and the competition a college team has to offer.
“I’m being pushed everyday,” Bierwolf said. “You are running for a team where you want to work hard because everyone else does.”
Beirwolf has adjusted to college practicing at 6:30 a.m. for a half hour and from 3:30 to about 5 in the afternoon.
Bierwolf will run her first college race this Saturday as the cross country teams will compete against the University of Utah, Weber State University, Idaho State University and Utah Valley State College.
Men’s competition will begin at 9:30 a.m.; the women will begin their competition 10 a.m.
The Aggies will host their only home meet of the season on Oct. 12 at the Logan River Golf Course.