Cross Country teams have high hopes for upcoming season

PROVO, Utah – This Saturday marks the beginning of the 2016 BYU men and women’s cross country season. Both teams ended the 2015 season with high rankings and are hoping to carry the same momentum and more throughout the coming season.

Each year the teams get together for a week of training and team bonding before the season begins. Head coach Ed Eyestone said the week of camp is always a great start to their season and the best part about it is allowing the team set goals together.

“One team goal, kind of a given, is win the conference meet and that’s something every year, we want to do that,” BYU track and field head coach Ed Eyestone said. “Every fall we want to go out with a bang since cross country is one of the first championships of the athletic calendar, so it’s nice for BYU to win conference early on. That’s a goal for us as a team.”

New assistant coach over women's cross country and distance, Diljeet Taylor, looks foward to her first season with the athletes.

"I am thrilled to work with this team and look forward to what the season brings," said Taylor. "We have a solid group of girls returning that will contribute highly to our success and were excited to see where the season goes."

Top female athletes to keep an eye on this season includes seniors Yesenia Silva and Natalie Shields-Connolly, and sophomore Alice Jensen. Taylor also said freshman duo Olivia Hoj and Courtney Wayment will be huge contributors to this years success and for years to come.

Top male athletes include senior Nicolas Montanez, junior and NCAA qualifier, Rory Linkletter. Eyestone is hopeful these two will help lead the team to the goals they desire to achieve.

“Our main focus is just to do the work everyday and realize that the most important meets of the year are at the end of the season at the conference and national meet. That’s our over riding goal, to be ready for those meets,” said Eyestone.

The team will host their first meet of the season this Saturday at the Clarence F. Robison Track in Provo. For more details on the meet visit the BYU women's cross country schedule.

Rory Linkletter - M Cross Country Alice Jensen XC Athlete Profile - WCC Courtney Wayment - W Cross Country Olivia Hoj - W Cross Country Nicolas Montanez Athlete Profile - MCC Yesenia Silva XC Athlete Profile - WCC Courtney Wayment - W Cross Country Natalie Shields XC Athlete Profile - WCC