WINTHROP CROSS COUNTRY 2016 Media Guide
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Date
2016 Schedule Meet Name
Location
September 3
USC Early Season Challenge
Columbia, SC
September 17
Winthrop Invitational
Home
October 1
UNCA Cross Country Challenge
Asheville, NC
October 15
UTC Moccasin Invitational
Chattanooga, TN
October 29
Big South Conference Championship
Asheville, NC
November 11
NCAA Southeast Regional
Charlottesville, VA
November 19
NCAA Championship
Terre Haute, IN
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
this is
Winthrop University one of America’s best
where students live, learn and lead
Founded in 1886, Winthrop University is rated as one of top regional higher education institutions in the nation. The picturesque campus is ideally located in the beautiful upstate section of South Carolina in the growing city of Rock Hill and only 30 minutes from uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.
With its 100 acre main campus and 300 acre athletic complex, Winthrop is home to a student body that numbers nearly 6,000. Unique academic course offerings and modern, well-equipped facilities guarantee a national-caliber education. Winthrop, students excel in an academic environment that is second to none.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
‘We are Eagles, come fly with us’
Dr. Daniel F. Mahony Winthrop’s 11th President
B.S. in accounting from Virginia Tech, 1987 M.S. in sport management from West Virginia, 1990 Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State, 1995
Dr. Daniel F. Mahony became Winthrop University’s 11th president on July 1, 2015, after serving for seven years as dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services and a professor of sport management at Kent State University in Ohio. Dr. Mahony also spent 13 years as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Louisville where his positions included sport administration program director, department chair, associate dean, assistant provost, and associate provost. Prior to his faculty and administrative positions, Dr. Mahony worked in both public accounting and intercollegiate athletics. He earned a B.S. in accounting from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in sport management from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State University. He is an active researcher in the areas of sport consumer behavior and intercollegiate athletics and has published more than 60 articles in various refereed journals, several book chapters, and one book. Dr. Mahony received the 2007 Earle F. Zeigler Award from the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) for his research contributions to the field. He is a NASSM Research Fellow and served as the association’s president from 2003-2004. Dr. Mahony is the recipient of the 2015 McInnis/Ryan Award from the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA), which recognized his principled and ethical leadership practices, and his scholarship regarding issues of justice and ethics in college, high school and professional sport. Originally from Clinton, New Jersey, Dr. Mahony has been married for more than 20 years to wife Laura, with whom he has two children, son Gavin and daughter Elena
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Winthrop Athletics
Dr. Ken Halpin, the former deputy
Ken Halpin, Ph.D. Athletic Director
Dr. Renae Myles Sr. Associate AD for Internal Operations
athletic director at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, is in his first year as athletic director at Winthrop. Halpin is responsible for the administration of all aspects of Winthrop’s NCAA Division I athletics program. In his role, he provides strategic leadership and direction for a program that places a priority on academic achievement and athletic excellence. Over the past five years at EWU Halpin served in multiple roles, most recently as deputy athletic director overseeing a wide range of responsibilities covering all external operations including development, marketing, communications, ticketing, sponsorships,
Scott McDonald Associate AD Compliance, Student Services & Donor Relations
licensing, special projects, and special events. He was also the sport supervisor for the men’s and women’s tennis programs. Halpin’s first year at EWU was spent as the director of corporate partnerships for their multi-media rights partner, which has since been acquired by Learfield, generating corporate revenue for the EWU Athletic Department. Halpin received a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Washington State University in 2015 and an M.A. in sport administration from Gonzaga University in 2008, where he has taught as an adjunct professor in the sport management program for the past seven years. He earned a B.A.
Jack Frost Assistant AD Media Relations
Joanna Harris Assistant AD Academic Services
from Willamette University in 2005, where he was an All-Conference performer in both football and
baseball.
Halpin and his wife, Amber, are the parents of two sons--Kenny, 8, and Jonathan, 3, and the family looks forward to a new addition in November.
Jeff Lahr Assistant AD Athletic Training
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Academic & Student-Athlete Services Winthrop Athletics is strongly committed to the welfare and support of its student-athletes through its Academics, Student Services and Compliance offices. A variety of resources are available to student-athletes in the Rock Hill Coca-Cola Academic Resource Center which is housed in the Winthrop Coliseum. The academic staff works closely with its student-athletes throughout their entire experience at Winthrop to ensure their academic success.
Graduation Is Our Goal
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
CHAMPS/Life Skills Programs The CHAMPS/Life Skills program provides Winthrop student-athletes with personal development opportunities that challenge and enhance the collegiate experience. The program
is designed to provide leadership and service learning experiences. In addition, programs and seminars address career development, and academic and personal
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Athletic Complex Is Superb Winthrop’s 300 acre athletic complex includes outdoor venues for baseball, (The Winthrop Ballpark), men’s and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse (Eagle Field), men’s and women’s track & field (Belk Track), men’s and women’s tennis (Memorial Courts), and softball (Terry Field).
Irwin Belk Track Winthrop Ballpark
Winthrop Coliseum Memorial Courts
Eagle Field
Terry Field
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Area Attractions
Charlotte Skyline
Bank of America Stadium
Time-Warner Arena
BB&T Park
Downtown Rock Hill Ampitheater Paramount Carowinds Theme Park
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Athletic Training Winthrop provides five full-time certified athletic trainers along with three graduate assistant trainers who are dedicated to attaining excellence in all aspects of sports medicine. Led by the veteran head athletic trainer Jeff Lahr, the staff works hard to deliver the highest quality health care to all of its student-athletes. Lahr, the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training, is in his 22nd year at Winthrop. The full-time staff of assistant athletic trainers includes Daniel Lundy, Seth Faulkner, Martha Dettl, and Kiersten Schmidt. Several students enrolled in the University’s athletic training program are also involved in helping with daily training room and game management duties. The University athletic training department is teamed up with Dr. William Graham, who serves on staff at Ortho Carolina-Pineville, to provide the best health care for its student-athletes.
Jeff Lahr 24 years of experience
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Strength & Conditioning Since Winthrop began its Strength and Conditioning program 13 years ago, it has become a key component to the success of Winthrop Athletics. The program was created to aid in injury prevention and improve athlete performance. All student-athletes receive personal instructions and attention from head strength coach Hayes Galitski and his staff that includes assistant Michael Rhodes, intern Andy Parker and volunteer assistants Charles Barton, John Brantley, and Sidney Rhodes. Galitski and his staff are responsible for designing and implementing the strength and conditioning programs for all 18 sports teams. They work closely with each individual coaching staff to design a program that is geared for that particular sport. Winthrop offers a modern and well-equipped strength and conditioning facility in the coliseum as well as the baseball stadium.
Hayes Galitski Strength & Conditioning Head Coach
Michael Rhoades Strength & Conditioning Assistant Coach
Andy Parker Strength & Conditioning Intern
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Meet the 2016 Winthrop Cross Country Team The members of the 2016 Winthrop men’s and women’s cross country team are, sitting from left: head coach Ben Paxton, JeNae Jones, Harper Henson, Ashley Graham, Jenelle Jones, Jazmyne Jones, Kelsey Ballou, Olivia Paxton, Francesca Schoning, Jessica Van Cleave, Emily Sparrow, athletic trainer Syrena Hess; standing, Blake White,Matthew Garcia-Lynn, Sam DiBridge, Eladio Wilkinson, Kevin Mills, Cameron Ruppe, Hunter JarvisTheo Kahler, John Oliver.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
2016 Winthrop Men’s Cross Country Roster
Name Sam DiBridge Matthew Garcia-Lynn Hunter Jarvis Theo Kahler Kevin Mills John Oliver Cameron Ruppe Blake White Eladio Wilkinson
Yr. Junior Senior Freshman Freshman RS-Sophomore Sophomore Junior Senior Sophomore
Ht. 5-10 5-8 6-0 6-2 6-3 5-10 6-2 5-6 6-1
Hometown/Previous School Greenville, SC / Travelers Rest H.S. Lexington, SC / Spartanburg Methodist Blythewood, SC/ Thomas Hunter Academy Columbia, SC/ Dreher H.S. Suwanee, GA / Peachtree Ridge H.S. Folly Beach, SC / McIntosh H.S. (Peachtree City, GA) Rock Hill, SC / Rock Hill H.S. Lexington, SC / Lexington H.S. Bluffton, SC / Hilton Head Island H.S.
Name Kelsey Ballou Ashley Graham Harper Henson Jazmyne Jones JeNae Jones Jenelle Jones Olivia Paxton Francesca Schoning Emily Sparrow Jessica Van Cleave
Yr. Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Freshman Sophomore Junior Junior
Coaching Staff Ben Paxton Bobbie Schreiner Brett Best
Head Cross Country & Track Coach Associate Head Track & Field Coach Assistant Track & Field Coach
2016 Winthrop Women’s Cross Country Roster Ht. 5-4 5-6 5-2 5-1 5-4 5-4 5-7 5-4 5-3 5-5
Hometown/Previous School Columbia, SC / Ridge View H.S. Chapin, SC / Chapin H.S. Midlothian, VA/ Cosby H.S. Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State) Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State) Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State) Rock Hill, SC/ South Pointe H.S. Hilton Head, SC / Hilton Head Island H.S. Clover, SC / Clover H.S. Jacksonville, FL / Creekside H.S.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Head Coach
S
ince his arrival in 1993, Ben Paxton has
served as head cross country and Track and field coach. He is the third cross country coach in school history and and is the only track and field head coach the program has had. Paxton was named the Big South Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001 after back-to-back men’s cross country titles for the Eagles. He was also named the outdoor track coach of the year in 1999 and 2004 and indoor track coach of the year in 2000. Prior to coaching at Winthrop, Paxton served as the head Track/Cross Country coach at Old Dominion University from 1989-1992. While at ODU, Paxton coached the Monarchs to a runnerup finish in the CAA, narrowly losing to 11th ranked William and Mary. That same year saw the Monarchs finish 10th in the Southeast NCAA District, their highest finish ever. Paxton coached
Ben Paxton
athletes who set every school record from the 800 meters to the 10,000 meters. Coach Paxton also worked with Craig Cesar, the 8th ranked 800 meter runner in the United States and a two-time SEC champion. The Eagle cross country and track and field programs have grown under Paxton’s tutelage. Along with two Big South titles in cross country, the Lady Eagles own Big South records in the short sprints, both indoor and outdoor. The Lady Eagles have also captured five conference titles in the 4 X 100 relays including the all-time Big South record of 45.86 at the 2004 NCAA East Regionals. Paxton has guided seven Eagles to the NCAA championships; Jeff Greene in 1994, Adam Growley in 2000, Octavia Goode in 2004, Jason Williams and Matthew Elliott in 2008, Ashley Howard in 2010, and Marthaline Cooper in 2015 and 2016.
During Paxton’s tenure, the Eagles have captured 59 individual and 10 relay titles, two team championships, and more than 300 athletes earned All-Big South honors. Paxton has also worked with two Olympians; 1988 Marathon runner Margaret Gross and 1992 1,500 meter runner Terrance Herrington. He is serving his third four-year appointment to the NCAA Track and Field Committee where he served as chair for both the 2004 NCAA outdoor championships at the University of Texas and the 2004 NCAA cross country championships in Terre Haute, IN Paxton, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. He and his wife Wendy have two children: Gabriel, a junior on the Eagle track team, and Olivia, a freshman of the Winthrop cross country squad.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
The Assistant Coaches
Bobbie SCHREINER Associate head Coach Sprints/Hurdles/ Jumps Coach
Bobbie Schreiner enters her 13th year with the Winthrop track and field program. Her primary responsibility is the development of the Eagles’ sprint, hurdle, and jump athletes as the associate head coach. In 2004, Schreiner helped Octavia Goode reach the pinnacle of the sport, reaching the NCAA Division I Nationals in Austin, TX. Goode narrowly missed All-America honors on her way to conference and school record-breaking speed in the 100 meter dash, placing 17th overall in the nation. Goode was named to the NCAA All-East Region team in the 100 meter and 200 meter thesame season. During the past four years Schreiner has helped 14 student-athletes qualify for the NCAA East Regional Championships, while her sprinters have claimed nearly 40 school records and nine conference records. Prior to joining the Winthrop staff, Schreiner spent two years at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas as an assistant coach. At Baker she had seven NAIA National qualifiers and one All-American. Schreiner has attended Level III USA Track & Field sprints, hurdles, relays, and jumps education. She earned her Level II USA Track & Field certification in sprints, hurdles, relays, and jumps and is certified in Level I. The Colorado native earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University of Wyoming and her master’s degree in management at Baker University. During her short career Schreiner has had multiple success with the sprints, hurdles, and jumps. While at Winthrop she’s coached the following: 1 NCAA National Qualifier 5 Provisional NCAA National Qualifiers
7 Conference Championship Relays
16 NCAA East Regional Qualifiers
73 All-Big South selections
4 NCAA East Regional Relay Qualifiers
10 Big South Conference Records
4 NCAA East Regional Team Selections
5 Big South Conference MVP’s
21 Conference Champions
Brett BEST
Assistant Coach Throws Coach
Brett Best begins his 15th year of coaching the Winthrop throwers. In his previous thirteen years, his throwers have broken all of the school records in the throwing events a total of 84 times. They have also set two Big South Conference records, and have rewritten the Winthrop all-time throwing lists. Last year, the Eagle throwers had a banner year, garnering three All-Big South honors, two Big South Championships and one NCAA first round qualifier. Winthrop earned their first All-American honor in 21 years when sophomore Marthaline Cooper finished 10th at the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw. In 2012, Best helped senior Jared Baird set a school and Big South Conference record in the javelin at 71.30m (233 feet, 11 inches). Baird was a three-time All-Big South performer and four-time NCAA qualifier. In 2010, Best coached senior Ashley Howard to a school and Big South Conference record of 51.35m (168 feet, six inches). Howard qualified for the second round of the NCAA championships and finished 17th in the field, the highest place of any Big South competitor that year. During Best’s tenure, Winthrop throwers have won 11 conference championships and have garnered 32 all-conference awards. In addition, Winthrop athletes have qualified for the NCAA East Region, seven have qualified for the NCAA first round, one athlete has been named all-region, two qualified for the NCAA Championships and one has been named All-American. Prior to coming to Winthrop, Best was the field events coordinator at Beloit College, where he coached several All-Americans and a number of conference champions. Before Beloit College, Best was the throws coach at Virginia Tech, where he helped build the Hokies into a national throwing powerhouse. In his four years, Tech had two All-Americans, 12 individual conference champions and more than 40 all-conference selections. Tech also won ten team conference titles. Best began his college coaching career at Roanoke College, where he helped the Maroon women win their first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship. He began his career at Christiansburg (Va.) High School, where he coached three all-state athletes, one state champion and helped the Lady Blue Demons win their first-ever state championship. As an athlete, Best was an all-conference performer in the discus at the University of Chicago. Best is married to Gwen Daley, a Winthrop geology professor.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Sam DiBridge Jr.
2016 Men’s Roster
Greenville, SC / Traveler’s Rest H.S.
w Ran in all six meets as a sophomore w Top finish was 3rd at College of Charleston Invitational (26:31.8 in 8K) w Best 8K time is 26:16.3 at the 2015 Royals Challenge w Was a two-time Region Champion in cross country in 2010 and 2013 w Is majoring in biology
Matthew Garcia-Lynn Sr.
Lexington, SC / Spartanburg Methodist College
w Competed in five meets in 2015 and had a best finish of 19th place at the Royals Challenge (28:26.2) w Is a transfer from Spartanburg Methodist w Was a national qualifer for the NJCAA championships w Ran cross country for Lexington (SC) H.S. and helped lead his team to the 2012 state championship w Is majoring in business administration
Kevin Mills
So.-R Suwanee, GA / Peachtree Ridge H.S. w Redshirted in 2015 to complete a Study-Abroad program. w Ran in five of six 2014 meets and had two top 10 finishes, including first place at College of Charleston (25:01.00 in 8K) w Was the 2013 Georgia Class 6A State Champion w Was ranked in the Southeastern U.S. top five list w Was a Georgia All-State selection in both cross country and track w Is majoring in business entrepreneurship
John Oliver So. Folly Beach, SC / McIntosh H.S. (Peachtree City, GA)
w Competed in four meets as a freshman in 2015 w Best 8K time was 29:29.6 at the Royals Challenge w Ran high school cross country in 2013 and 2014 and was a member of the track team in 2014 and 2015 w Was an outstanding student earning honor roll throughout his high school career w Is majoring in computer science
Hunter Jarvis
Cameron Ruppe
w Was the 2015 South Carolina Independent Schools Association cross country champion w Won the 2015 and 2016 SCISA state titles in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m w Lettered three years in cross country and four years in track while in high school w Is undeclared on a major
w Has run in all 12 meets as a freshman and sophomore w Best 8K time is 26:39.3 at the 2015 Royals Challenge w Was a two-time Region Champion in cross country and the two mile run w Earned All-State honors in track for two mile run w Earned USATF All-American honors in steeplechase w Is majoring in special education
Fr.
/Blythewood, SC/ Thomas Sumter Academy
Jr.
Rock Hill, SC / Rock Hill H.S.
Theo Kahler
Blake White
w Was an All-State selection in cross country and a two-time All-State performer in track (1600m and 3200m) w Was a six-time Region 4-AAA champion in cross country and track (800m, 1600m, and 3200m) w Lettered in cross country and track as a junior and senior w Is undeclared on a major
w Ran in five meets in 2015 with a top finish of 17th in the College of Charleston Invitational (27:21.2 in 8K) w Best 8K time is 27:05.8 at the 2015 Royals Challenge w Was a four-time member of the South Carolina Class 4A State Championship cross country and track teams w Was a three-time Class 4A All-State Cross Country runner w Was a member of the 2011 State Champion 4x800 relay team w Is majoring in sociology
Fr.
Columbia, SC/ Dreher H.S.
Sr.
Lexington, SC / Lexington H.S.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Eladio Wilkinson
2016 Men’s Roster
So. Bluffton, SC / Hilton Head Island H.S.
w Competed in two meets in injury-shortened 2015 season w Earned All-State honors in 2013 and 2014 in cross country and in 2015 for track w Finished fourth at the 2014 Class 3A State XC Championship w Is expected to run in the top five this year for Winthrop w Is majoring in exercise science
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Kelsey Ballou
2016 Women’s Roster
So. Columbia, SC / Ridge View H.S.
Jazmyne Jones
So. Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State)
w Ran in five of six meets as a freshman in 2015 w Best 5K time was 21:00.9 at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte w Also earned All-Region honors in track in the 800m and 1600m as she finished second and third, respectively w Is majoring in special education
w Transferred to Winthrop from South Carolina State along with sisters JeNae and Janelle w Ran cross country and track for four years at Lancaster H.S. w Ran in the SCHSL cross country championship three years w Is majoring in chemistry
Ashley Graham
JeNae Jones
So. Easley, SC / Easley H.S.
w Competed in three meets as a freshman w Best 5K time was 22:52.8 at the College of Charleston Invitational w Is majoring in art
So. Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State) w Is the twin sister of teammate JeNae Jones and has another sister,Jazmyne, on the team w Competed in cross country for four years and track for five years at Lancaster H.S. w Helped lead H.S. team to appearances in four state appearances, and was a 3-time individual qualifier for state w Earned All-Region honors in cross country in 2014 w Is majoring in mathematics
Harper Henson
Jenelle Jones
w Was a hightly touted runner in high school w Led Cosby H.S. to conference titles in cross country and track w State top finisher in the indoor 1000m and regional top finisher in the 800m, 1000m, 1600m and 4x800 relay w Qualified for New Balance Nationals in New York for the 4x800 relay w Is majoring in human nutrition
w Competed in cross country for four years and track for five years at Lancaster H.S. w Helped lead H.S. team to appearances in four state appearances, and was a 3-time individual qualifier for state w Earned All-Region honors in cross country in 2014 w Is majoring in English
Fr.
Midlothian, VA/Cosby H.S.
So. Lancaster, SC/ Lancaster H.S. (South Carolina State)
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
2016 Women’s Roster
Olivia Paxton Fr.
Rock Hill, SC/ South Pointe H.S.
w Was the 2016 South Carolina State Champion in 3200m w Was a four-time cross country All-Region selection w Was selected All-State in cross country in 2014 adn 2015 w Was the 2015 South Carolina Upper State cross country champion w Was a 6-time All-Region track performer in 2015 and 2016 w Is the daughter of head coach Ben Paxton w Is majoring in political science
Emily Sparrow Jr.
Clover, SC / Clover H.S.
w Has run in all 12 collegiate meets as a freshman and sophomore w Best 5K time is 19:17.21 at the 2015 Big South Championship w Was selected the 2013-14 Clover H.S. Athlete of the Year w Earned 2013 All-Region honors in cross country w Set Clover school records in the 1600 and 3200 meters w Is majoring in English
Francesca Schoning
Jessica Van Cleave
w Ran in four meets as a freshman w Best 5K time was 19:50.9 at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte w Earned cross country All-State honors in 2014 and was an All-Region selection for four years w Earned All-Region honors in track in the 800m and 1600m as she finished second and third, respectively w Is majoring in exercise science
w Ran in all six 2015 meets and 11 of 12 as a freshman and sophomore w Best 5K time is 20:49.94 at the 2015 Big South Championship w Earned All-Conference and All-District honors all four years of H.S. w Was selected MVP of her high school cross country team as a freshman, sophomnore and junior, and served as team captain in senior year w Is majoring in mass communications
So. Hilton Head, SC / Hilton Head Island H.S.
Jr.
Jacksonville, FL / Creekside H.S.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
2016 Preview
Eagles Have Experience Returning
two top four finishes in the 3A SCHSL state meet. “The upperclassmen will be pressed to hold their positions from Last year. New faces mean a much more competitive team,” says Paxton.
he Winthrop men’s and women’s cross country
T
teams have been picked to finish sixth in the 2016 Big South Conference by the league’s head coaches which is a bit of a surprise to Winthrop head coach Ben Paxton. “To say I am a little surprised by the poll is an understatement especially with the outdoor track performances of Kevin Mills and Emily Sparrow last spring,” said Paxton. “Kevin captured the 3000m steeplechase after sitting out last year’s cross country season to study abroad. Emily was one of only three women to score in the two longest disciplines on the track—the 5K and 10K--at last spring’s championships.” For the first time since 2013, Liberty has been voted the favorite to capture the women’s title while defending Big South champion Campbell is the favorite on the men’s side and was a near-unanimous pick to repeat. Winthrop opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3 when both the men and women compete in the USC Early Season Challenge in Columbia, SC. The 33rd annual Winthrop Invitational is scheduled for Sept. 17 at the Winthrop Lake Course. The Men could be looking at four new faces in the top five scorers this fall, according to Paxton. Mills (Suwanee, GA), a two time All-BSC runner and steeplechase champion, returns after missing last fall while studying in Prague, Czech Republic. Joining Mills will be junior Sam DiBridge, last year’s top performer. An injury derailed prep standout Eladio Wilkinson last year, but he is healthy again and will be joined by four-time South Carolina state champion Hunter Jarvis and three-time AllState performer Theo Kahler. Returners will also include senior Blake White along with junior Cameron Ruppe, senior Matthew Garcia-Lynn, and sophomore John Oliver The women lost two of last year’s top three runners, but have added a host of talented new faces. South Carolina state champion Olivia Paxton, daughter of the Eagles’ head coach, and Virginia All-State performer Harper Henson headline two of the top prep prospects from the Southeast. Sophomore Frankie Schoning appears healthy and will be joined by sophomore twins Jenelle and JeNae
2016 Big South Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll Rk 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Team Points Liberty 95 High Point 94 UNC Asheville 74 Campbell 69 Radford 62 Winthrop 51 Gardner-Webb 39 Presbyterian College 27 Longwood 25 Charleston Southern 12
2016 Big South Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
Blake White (L) and Emily Sparrow are two experienced runners for 2016 Jones, who transferred from South Carolina State. Other returners who could make a serious run for the top five are junior Jessica Van Cleave, sophomores Kelsey Ballou, Ashley Graham, and Jazmyne Jones, and Senior Jaclyn Baker. According to Paxton, Winthrop’s freshman recruit class is the strongest in terms of accomplishments. Olivia (Paxton) ran the state’s fastest time in the 3200m for all classifications this past spring while capturing the SCHSL title. Henson finished sixth in the Virginia State meet in one the deepest fields in the country. Jarvis dominated South Carolina high school boys with top times for the 800m, 1600m and 3200m, while capturing four state titles and Kahler had
Rk 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Team Points Campbell 99 Liberty 90 High Point 79 UNC Asheville 67 Radford 60 Winthrop 54 Presbyterian College 34 Gardner-Webb 31 Longwood 24 Charleston Southern 12
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
The Women’s Honor Roll Stephanie Vangsnes
Jeanne Stroud
Stephanie Vangsnes ranks as one of Winthrop’s alltime top runners, earning NCAA All-Region honors and qualifying for the 2002 NCAA Southeast Region. She was inducted into the Winthrop Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
Jeanne Stroud had one of the most honored careers of any Winthrop studentathlete. She earned All-Big South Conference honors three times, was a two-time cross country Big South Scholar-Athlete of the year, and set the 5K record in cross country in 2012.
NCAA Southeast All-Region Cross Country Stephanie Vangsnes
2002
Women’s Cross Country Record Holder Dist. Runner Year 5K Jeanne Stroud 2012 6K Stephanie Vangsnes 2002
Location Time Winthrop 17:24.03 E. Carolina 20:53
Top Post-Season Finishes Runner Jeanne Stroud Jeanne Stroud Stephanie Vangsnes Stephanie Vangsnes
Place Year Event 2nd 2011 Big South 2nd 2012 Big South 2nd 2002 Big South 21st 2002 NCAA SE Region
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
The Men’s Honor Roll NCAA Qualifiers
Adam Growley
Cross Country
2000
The 2001 team is shown after capturing the school’s second straight Big South Conference Championship. Pictured are the All-Conference runners from that season, from left: Lucas McCurdy, Adam Growley, Matt Kelleher along with Brad Lang
NCAA Southeast All-Region Cross Country Adam Growley 1998, 2000
Big South Individual Champions Jeff Greene Adam Growley
Cross Country Cross Country
1994 2001
Big South Team Championship Titles Cross Country 2000, 2001
Big South Most Valuable Performers Jeff Greene Adam Growley
Cross Country MVP Cross Country MVP
USTFCCCA All-Region Jeff Green Adam Growley Adam Growley
1994 1998 2000
1994 2001
Men’s Cross Country Record Holder
Dist. Runner 8K Jeff Greene 10K Jeff Greene
Year Location Time 1994 Winthrop 24:11 1994 Furman 30:41
Top Post-Season Finishes
Runner Jeff Greene Adam Growley Adam Growley Adam Growley
Place Year Event 1st 1994 Big South Championship 1st 2001 Big South Championship 16th 2000 NCAA Southeast Regional 239th 2000 NCAA Championship
Winthrop’s two most decorated distance runners are pictured above. Jeff Greene (Left) is the program’s only All-American and Adam Growley (Right). Both athletes have been inducted into the Winthrop Athletics Hall of Fame
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Women’s Big South Conference Honors Big South Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Stephanie Vangsnes Carrie Selmer
2002 2004
Carly Moss 2009 Jeanne Stroud 2012, 2013 Carrie Selmer
Big South Conference All-Academic Team Kristen Cowen Brooke Spencer Beth Greene Kathrin Milbury Kathrin Milbury Jennifer Devaux Stephanie Vangsnes Stephanie Vangsnes Carrie Selmer Carrie Selmer
1996 2006 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Laura Baines Lisa Sickman Carly Moss Carly Moss Jennifer Schofield Jeanne Stroud Jeanne Stroud Jeanne Stroud Sarah Devaux Tristan Langley
Michelle Dreon Denise Holiday Ann Taber Denise Holiday April Tindal April Tindal Sara Teets Beth Greene Beth Greene Beth Greene Mary Crawley Jennifer Devaux Jennifer Devaux Stephanie Vangsnes Stephanie Vangsnes
1986 1986 1986 1987 1988 1988 1993 1995 1997 1998 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003
Carrie Selmer Carrie Selmer Carey Phillips Brooke Spencer Jeanne Stroud Jeanne Stroud Jeanne Stroud
All-Big South Conference Team
1997 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2004 2005 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013
Big South Conference Rookie of the Year Sara Teets
2000
Carrie Selmer excelled on the course and in the classroom during her Winthrop career. She was voted the 2004 Big South Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was a two-time All-Academic Team selection, and earned All-Big South Conference cross country honors in 2004 and 2005.
Big South All-Decade Teams Denise Holiday (1986-89) Beth Greene (1990-99)
Beth Greene Beth Greene (right) is one of the two three-time All-Big South Conference cross country selections in Winthrop women’s history. Jeanne Stroud is the other.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Men’s Big South Conference Honors
Big South Conference Runner of the Year Jeff Greene
1994
Adam Growley
Big South Conference Team Championships 2001
Big South All-Decade Teams Richard Golden (1986-89) Jeff Greene (1990-99) Adam Growley (2000-09)
Big South Conference Freshman of the Year Casey Lyons 2007
Big South Conference Coach of the Year Ben Paxton
2000, 2001
Adam Growley
Big South Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Jeff Greene
1994
Tim Tousey
1998
Big South Conference All-Academic Team Tim Tousey Tim Tousey Tim Tousey Ashley Ackerman Brandon Holland Brandon Holland Gaines Bailey Gaines Bailey Gaines Bailey
1996 1997 1998 2000 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007
Gaines Bailey Adam Freudenthal Adam Freudenthal Adam Freudenthal Gabe Holguin Colby Coulter Blake White Blake White
2000 2001
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Adam Growley led Winthrop to backto-back Big South Conference titles in 2000 and 2001 and is the only three-time All-Big South Conference runner in men’s history, and Winthrop’s only NCAA National Championship qualifier.
All-Big South Conference Team Richard Golden Richard Golden Jeff Greene Robert Leone Trevor Beesley Adam Growley Brad Orr Adam Growley Justin Insco
1984 1985 1994 1995 2007 1998 2007 2000 2000
Matt Kelleher Daniel Barry Adam Growley Brandon Holland Matt Kelleher Lucas McCurdy Chris Batista Adam Freudenthal Adam Freudenthal
2000 2001 2001 2001 2001 2001 2003 2010 2011
Jeff Greene Jeff Greene was the first Big South Conference Runner of the Year and Big South Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Winthrop history.
2016 Winthrop Cross Country
Winthrop’s Cross Country Course Is Rated One Of The Best