Season Preview: Millersville cross country carries momentum, new-found expectations into 2024

Season Preview: Millersville cross country carries momentum, new-found expectations into 2024

8/29/2024 11:20:00 AM | Women's Cross Country

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - A heaviness comes with the weight of newly bestowed expectations, but the thought of making history turns the burden into a driving excitement. That's where Millersville's cross country runners find themselves entering 2024.

A surprising sixth-place finish at the 2023 PSAC Championships (Millersville's best since 2010) translated to a fifth-place ranking in the 2024 PSAC Preseason Poll. That is the Marauders' highest ranking in the 16-year history of the preseason poll, signifying that the conference's coaches now recognize Millersville as a threat after more than a decade out of the mix. Millersville also finished sixth at the NCAA Atlantic Regional, and only three spots separate the Marauders from their first trip to the NCAA Championships since 1999.

"(The runners) realize that they actually could be good, and it started to show in track and field season," said Millersville head coach Andy Young.

Millersville finished the 2023 NCAA regional with 211 points while third-place finisher Davis & Elkins totaled 139—an average of 14 spots per runner. The difference between each of D&E's top three finishers and each of Millersville's first three was almost exactly 33 seconds. That's not an insignificant number, but it feels attainable considering the roster that Millersville returns.

"We were pretty close to some of the teams in front of us and got out-pointed right at the end by Shippensburg in both meets," said Young. "The team could see that we were right there, that this is something that we could go for. They know we haven't sent a team to NCAA's in a long time, and it is a large ask because there are some really good teams out there. But the team is like, 'Hey, why not us?'"

It's been a dramatic turnaround for the cross country program. The team finished no higher than 10^th for 12 consecutive PSAC Championships before 2023, and last season's finish was an incredible seven-spot improvement from 2022. The veteran members of the team have stood at the top of the podium in track and field as part of the 2022 outdoor championship team. They know what it takes to be successful, and they also know that goals can be achieved.

"In track, they've had that experience where we finished second and third, but we got it that one time, so they know from that experience that it is very possible that when you are getting close, you can get it," said Young. "We haven't done it in cross country. They are aware of it. A lot of these runners, when they came in, we were coming off COVID, and we were not strong at all. They just want to get better. That's the big thing. If the team can be stronger every year, that's something they'll be happy about. We can't guarantee our finish, but I think these kids will be proud of themselves for the work they put in, and the opportunity to be competitive this year."

Millersville Cross Country — *Hannah Sweda made significant strides in 2023.*

The experience of the 2023 cross country season carried over into a strong outdoor track season, and that was enough to compel the Marauders' top two runners, Morgan Janiuk and Hannah Sweda, to return for one last run. Janiuk placed 10^th at the PSAC Championship and 26^th at the regional, while Sweda took 23^rd at the conference race, giving Millersville two All-PSAC runners for the first time since 2014.

"Morgan and Hannah didn't need to come back," said Young. "But they had the eligibility to do it, and after last season, they signed on, and that's huge for the team."

In addition to their cross country performances, both excelled in the spring. At the PSAC Outdoor Championships, Janiuk placed third in the 1,500-meter run and took fourth in the 5,000. Sweda took 13^th in the 5,000 and 10^th in the 10,000. Janiuk is taking her one remaining class to complete her bachelor's degree while Sweda is taking graduate courses in emergency management after receiving her bachelor's degree in May. The runners returned differently motivated. Janiuk looks to go out on top, and Sweda lives for the competition.

"Two years ago, Morgan had a disappointing finish where she collapsed toward the end of the race, and last year, I think she was nervous about racing really hard, wondering if it would happen again," said Young. "But in the spring, she lit it up. She rebuilt her confidence, and for her, she wanted another opportunity. She is competitive, and she wasn't happy with the way things finished for her.

"Hannah will tell everyone she is super competitive," Young continued. "Any opportunity she gets to have more competitive experiences is a real positive for her. She's putting her life on hold to do one more round."

No one athlete represented Millersville cross country's improvement better than Sweda. As a freshman, she finished 134^th at the PSAC Championship. She's shaved more than three minutes off of her personal-best 6K time, which now has her ranked 10^th in program history.

"She's just gotten better and better," said Young. "It's a lot of fun for us as coaches to see that, and for the other athletes to see and know that 'If I keep working like she works, maybe I can see those results.'"

Young is quick to point out that that cross country is a team sport, and two runners, as good as they may be, are not enough to push a team to an NCAA Championship appearance. Teams need depth as much in practice as on race day. Emboldened by the example of Janiuk and Sweda and the experience of 2023, Millersville's returning runners diligently trained over the summer, impressing Young with their fitness and times.

Among the top returners are Olivia Sunderland, who was the team's No. 4 runner for much of 2023, Bri Pollock, who was a frequent scorer as a freshman, Bella Musgrove, Abby Bond, Emma Armstrong, Breia Mayes, Marissa Mounce, and Emily Massage.

Of that group, no runner made more off-season improvement than Massage, who was not among the team's top seven runners last season but is now pushing the front of the pack.

"Emily Massage got much better in track season, and she now sees Hannah and says, 'I can stay with her now. Maybe I can have an impact on this team,'" said Young. "I think a lot of the team was inspired by (Morgan and Hannah)."

Young also lauded the summertime efforts of Sunderland, Pollock and Liz Schaefer, who joined the team last year as a newcomer to the sport.

"Olivia Sunderland did well last cross country and really did her work this summer," said Young. Liz Schaefer was brand new to cross country last year, had never run in college or high school, and she's made a commitment to get in great shape. Bri Pollock blew me away this summer. She went really hard. She was unsatisfied with her finish as a freshman, and she's not leaving anything to chance. She may be one of our top runners. Through practices and what she's shown this summer, she may run with Morgan, and it shows she's put in the work to be successful…Abby Bond has been doing great work. Bella has been working hard and wants to be up in that mix."

Based on times turned in over the summer, and the team's practices to date, Young believes his top four runners are Janiuk, Sweda, Pollock and Massage. Then, there are a host of athletes competing to crack the lineup. The team's depth is, "an embarrassment of riches," according to Young.

"We have a lot of pieces we can put in place, and the kids are very motivated."

Young also added 11 freshmen and a transfer in Emilea Alleman, who ran two seasons at Shippensburg and has postseason experience. Young calls the freshmen an "x-factor."

"We have some talented kids coming in," said Young. "Bella Ruefle could be an interesting athlete in college and may have an impact on our team this year."

Millersville's schedule is jam-packed in 2024 with only two weekends off between Friday's Alumni 3K at Millersville's Freedom Park and the Nov. 9 NCAA Regional at Lock Haven. The Marauders' first full race is Sept. 7 at Navy's Cantello Invitational. The PSAC Championship is Oct. 26 and hosted by Kutztown.