Cross Country Opens Season at Shannon Henretty Invitational

The College of Southern Maryland's cross country teams begin their 2019 season on September 7 when they head up to race in the Shannon Henretty Invitational at Stevenson University in Stevenson, Maryland.

Sophomore Sierra Walker is back to lead the women's team. Last year, she set a record for the school, running the second-fastest female time in CSM history when she completed the Hornet Harrier 5K at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, in 23:13.0. At the Shannon Henretty Invitational in 2018, Walker ran a time of 29:03.4 in the 6K race.

CSM head coach Ken Killion said, "[Walker] made a pretty good improvement last year, but this year, the workouts she's been doing are far better than what she did last year. I'm expecting her to have a really good season this year."

This year, Walker will be joined by Brittany Douglas, Tiequille Jones, and Gabrielle Wilson on the women's team. Walker was the only runner on CSM's 2018 women's team.

On the men's side, Brandon Harty and Nathan Maldonado-Munoz will be running for the Hawks. Both are newcomers to CSM.

Killion added another race to the Hawks' schedule this year, the Catholic University Cardinal Classic in Colmar Manor, Maryland, on September 14. CSM will again be racing at the Goucher College Cross Country Classic on October 5 in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Hood College Open on October 19 in Frederick, Maryland.

Killion has a simple message for his team: "Basically, I tell them, I don't care how fast or slow they are, as long as they give 100% when you're supposed to - in each practice, in each meet. If you run smart and give 100%, at the end of the season you can hold your head high."