As of last week, the University of Oregon cross country team has hit the season running. The green and yellow of Track Town USA enter the season and year with high expectations and gave a brief preview of their talent during last Friday’s PSU Viking Classic. The No. 3 ranked women swept the Vikings, Oregon State, and University of Portland while the No. 12 men fell to No. 8 University of Portland.
While it’s still early in the preseason, the women of Oregon are weighed by heavy expectations from last year’s cross country national championship. The Ducks didn’t waver under the pressure, however, with 1-2-4-5 finish over their in-state foes led by junior Megan Patrignelli. Sophomore Molly Grabill, sophomore Abbey Leonardi and junior Mia Elbon closed out the race behind Patrignelli. The foursome will likely be depended on to fill in the gaps left by those graduated from last year’s squad including Jordan Hasay – the most decorated track athlete in Oregon history.
Patrignelli is an experienced middle distance runner for Oregon, qualifying for the Pac-12 Championships last year in the 1,500. Last year marked her first cross country season in which she finished 30th in the conference. Leonardi also enters the season with experience from last year’s cross country season. While Leonardi placed 24th at the conference championships, she was a crucial part of the championship long distance team, and now enters with the experience of running with and against some of the country’s best. Elbon joins the team after starting her career at Belmont. While at Belmont, Elbon was the Ohio Valley Conference cross country individual champion. Finally Grabill missed last year’s season after a car accident in November but came out in full swing to secure a second place finish Friday. Senior Sarah Penney of last year’s championship team is also expected to lead this year though she did not compete at the meet.
As for the men, it was junior Ryan Pickering who led the team with a second place finish. Junior Daniel Winn closed the day in third, sophomore Matthew Melancon sixth and senior Tim Costin ninth. The men of Oregon sent a squad of veterans to the meet including All-American Parker Stinson who did not compete. While the women can boast last year’s championship, the men bring a stronger veteran core to the year than the women. The men also come armed with a strong recruiting class of 17 transfers and freshmen. Though the squad didn’t come away with the sweep, Oregon’s men will likely pose a threat once the season gets into full swing.
The teams will next gear up for the Boston College Invitational on Sept. 27. As of now Oregon cross country appear poised to make another run for the top of the collegiate running world and bring enough talent to continue a legacy that deemed Eugene, Track Town USA.
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