XC: 2018 Season Preview
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Saturday marks the opening of the cross country season for the women's team, but before the Eagles run in their opener, take some time to preview the 2018 season for Avila's cross country programs.
The women's team will open their season on Saturday at Baker's Maple Leaf Invitational in Baldwin City, Kan., while the men will open their season on Saturday, Sep. 8 in Atchison, Kan.
The women's team will be led by three key returners: Penny Fenn, Tenka Stringer and Nancy Chicas. Fenn, who qualified and competed in the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships in 2016 as a freshman, will look to get back to that form while Stringer and Chicas will look to take another big step forward in 2018.
The Eagles also have a solid flock of newcomers in Alexandra Comparato, Aubrey Cravy and Reygan Hubbard. Cravy is the lone transfer, with Comparato and Hubbard coming in for their freshmen seasons.
2018 Avila Women's Cross Country Roster
Head Coach Je'Kel Smith says that he's excited to see what his team can do in their first year in a new conference as the university joins the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference after a near-twenty year run in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
"I believe this group has a chance to do something special in our first season in the KCAC," Smith said. "We have a few new faces with tons of potential, and our returners have really been setting the tone in the preseason. If we can stay healthy I think this team is really headed in the right direction."
On the men's side, the Eagles will be led by the likes of Tyler King, Roger Wadsworth and Matthew Roth, who are all returning from the 2017 team. Avila will also look to get a big contribution from newcomer Thomas Bettis.
Coach Smith said that while his men's team is small in numbers, he believes they can make a splash as well in the KCAC.
"With the three runners we have back, I feel we have a shot to take some major steps forward this season," Smith said of his men's squad. "Tyler (King) is entering his junior season and he's focused on making a name for himself in the KCAC and qualifying at the national level. Thomas (Bettis) being here is big for Tyler because the two were high school teammates, and they have been pushing each other all preseason, which has ultimately pushed the rest of the group, as well."
2018 Avila Men's Cross Country Roster
Both the men's and women's teams will run a similar schedule in 2018, with the only difference being Saturday's Maple Leaf Invitational in Baldwin City. For the complete 2018 cross country schedule, click here.
