McKenna headed to nationals
Senior Brian McKenna placed 10th overall and helped the USU men’s cross-country team to a seventh-place finish, with 191 points at the NCAA Mountain Regional Cross-Country Championship meet in Provo on Saturday.
USU came close to the top four, missing it by 12 points.
“I am proud of them — of the way they raced and the season they have had,” head coach Greg Gensel said. “This is a tough region. Finishing seventh and so close to fourth is really great.”
Gensel said the strategy beforehand was to come out aggressive as a team in the race.
“The plan was to go out and try to take control — be aggressive,” Gensel said. “I think, in the long run that hurt them a little bit in this race.”
McKenna shined in the race, briefly leading the pack.
“(McKenna) went out with the leaders,” Gensel said. “The better runners in the region made a big push, and he fell back a little but still was in the top 10-12.”
McKenna finished the 10-kilometer race in 30 minutes, 43.3 seconds.
“He is a coach’s dream to coach,” Gensel said. “He is so willing to work hard, and he really studied the event and knew everything that he needed too.”
Mckenna’s season will continue Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind., for the second NCAA National meet of his career.
Gensel said McKenna’s experience will benefit him.
He has been there before,” Gensel said. “He knows what he is getting into. He is excited about the possibilities. He knows the course and has been there before. I think he will race well.”
The women’s team placed 18th overall with 445 points.
“I think that they didn’t have as good of day as they would have liked,” Gensel said. “They worked hard this season and just fell a little at this meet.”
Senior Ruth Hilton was the women’s team top finisher, completing the 6-kilometer course in 22:43.5, giving her a 56th-place finish.
“They have had a good season also — did well at the conference meet,” Gensel said. “It was really cold and windy, and I think that affected their race a little bit.”
Gensel said both teams did a great job.
“I’m proud of the season that both teams have had,” Gensel said. “They have really worked hard all season.”
– mega.bodi@aggiemail.usu.edu