Union News

Wingate University Athletics issued the following announcement on Sept. 8.

The old adage "good things come to those who wait" is not lost on the Wingate University cross country teams, as they will have waited 659 days between the 2019 NCAA championships and the 2021 Bulldog Stampede on Saturday, the teams' season opener following a year lost due to the global pandemic.

The 2019 season ended on a high note for both squads, as the women qualified for nationals and finished 31st. Current graduate student Micah Kipchumba advanced to the championships as an individual, his first appearance on the NCAA's biggest stage.

Great expectations

Both Bulldog teams are listed in the preseason USTFCCCA NCAA Division II top 25, with the men charting at no. 17 and the women finding the no. 20 spot. The Wingate women are second in the uber-competitive Southeast Region, with the men listed third. The South Atlantic Conference coaches picked the 'Dogs to finish second in both of the league's postseason races.

"We are honored to be considered one of the top teams in the region, as well as to be ranked top-20 nationally in both genders," Wingate head cross country coach Pol Domenech says. "On the men's side, this is the first time the team has been ranked nationally."

"The women make a big leap from their 31st place finish in 2019 to their current no. 20 ranking," Domenech affirms. "All this being said, these rankings do not change anything in regards to our training plan or team mentality. Both teams understand that the way we have organized the season and our training is not to satisfy ranking needs, but to be ready on Nov. 20 for the national championships."

Schedule

Wingate ends its 659-day competitive layoff Saturday, hosting the Bulldog Stampede at the WU Cross Country Facility. Coach Domenech and his charges welcome nine schools, including SAC foes Limestone and UVA Wise, CIAA neighbor Johnson C. Smith and Conference Carolinas members Converse and Mount Olive.

Next week, Wingate competes in the Converse Kickoff in Spartanburg Sept. 18, allowing the Bulldogs to see the Southeast Region course for the Nov. 6 SER championships. On Oct. 2, the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad runners venture to Florida for the pre-national meet hosted by Saint Leo University.

The postseason begins Oct. 23 with the SAC championship meet in Charlotte. The Southeast Region championship race follows on Nov. 6, hosted by Converse University. The Bulldogs have their sights set on finishing the season in Florida, as Saint Leo hosts the national championships on Nov. 20.

Runners to Watch

Last month, the South Atlantic Conference recognized six Bulldogs as Runners to Watch for the 2021 season. On the women's side, graduate student Lauryn Tumey Ursery is joined by sophomore Lara Orrock and freshman Gemma Rebollo. Kipchumba leads the Wingate men's trio, with junior Oliver Way and sophomore Bastian Mrochen rounding out the list.

Mrochen had a highlight-reel summer, winning a track-and-field bronze medal in the 5000 meters at the European Under 20 Championships in July. Since the global pandemic erased his inaugural Bulldog cross country season, Mrochen is ready for the 2021 season to begin.

Hard work

"I am really excited for the cross country season, since I haven't competed in a cross country race for more than two years," Mrochen says. "The Bulldog Stampede will be my collegiate cross country debut, which makes me very excited."

"We are an extremely strong team with many fast guys," Mrochen says. "Within the last few weeks and over the summer, we have put so much hard work into this season, but the work is not done yet."

"We want to show at conference, regionals and nationals what we really are capable of as a team," Mrochen says. "Coach Pol's training methods worked out well for us during last year's track and field season, so we want to continue this trend during the XC campaign."

'Trusting the Process'

"'Trust the process' is a phrase Coach Pol constantly repeated when the global pandemic brought our 2020 cross country season to an abrupt stop," Orrock says. "Believe me, all XC student-athletes question those early morning long runs, doing one more mile repitition or training in the heat of the day, but we placed our trust in Coach Pol and can't wait to finally show of all our hard work and hold Wingate's name high."

'Unbreakable bonds'

Orrock shares Mrochen's excitement as Saturday's Bulldog Stampede approaches. "The 'runner's high' is real with our cross country season finally about to start," she says. "Cross country is not easy, but it's one of the most rewarding events in collegiate distance running. Not only do you get up close and personal with your teammates (literally, XC starting lines are crazy!), but you build an unbreakable bond of trust and respect."

Original source can be found here.