Temple University Athletics
Blanca Fernandez and Matt Kacyon
Cross Country Teams Announce 2015 Schedule; Owls Primed for Success at the Conference Level and Beyond
7.23.15 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
PHILADELPHIA - Temple's cross country schedule for the 2015 season has been released, and has the Owls' men's and women's teams starting competition in early September. Temple is under the direction of second-year head coach Elvis Forde and third-year assistant coach/distance coach James Snyder.
Temple will compete in six races prior to the American Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 31. The conference meet, which will be hosted this year by East Carolina, will feature the Owls' top seven runners for both men and women.
The Owls will begin the season at the Duquesne Duals on Sept. 5 before returning home for their second race.
The annual Big 5 Invitational hosted by Temple will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 at Belmont Plateau in West Fairmount Park. The Owls will also host an alumni get-together in conjunction with their home meet, and they expect to have many former runners in attendance.
"This year marks the 50th anniversary of cross country racing on our home course at Belmont Plateau," said Snyder, "and I'm looking forward to having many of our alumni out at the race to support this year's team. It's always a competitive meet and a wonderful opportunity to test our fitness early in the season against the other teams in the city."
The following week will see Temple head to nearby Haverford College, and the Owls will then have a two-week break before competing in the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University on Oct. 2.
"Year in and year out, the Paul Short Invitational brings together many of the best cross country teams from across the United States," said Snyder. "It's a highly competitive field that will give our men and women a fantastic opportunity to race against the nation's best."
Some Temple runners will race on Oct. 10 in the Jack St. Clair Memorial Invite at Belmont Plateau before the final tune-up meet at Princeton on Oct. 17. That race will serve as a preview for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, which will also be hosted by Princeton on Nov. 13.
The ECAC/IC4A Championships are set for Nov. 21, as are the NCAA Championships for qualifying runners. The ECAC/IC4A Championships will be held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., while the NCAA Championships will be hosted by the University of Louisville.
"Our schedule is geared toward having our teams prepared to run their best at the American Athletic Conference Championships at East Carolina on October 31," said Snyder. "The men have improved steadily over the past two years moving up from a ninth place finish in 2013 to sixth last fall. We'll look to build upon that momentum with both teams as we head into the Championship portion of our season."
The men's team is in strong shape for 2015, returning all of its runners from last season when the Owls received their first Mid-Atlantic Regional Ranking (14th) during Snyder's tenure. Leading the group are fifth-year senior Matt Kacyon, an all-region and all-conference honoree in 2014, and senior Alex Izewski. Three other seniors add depth to a veteran group, as Ryan DeBarberie, Owen Glatts and William Maltin all return for a final season. Â
Kacyon led the men's team with an eighth-place finish at last year's conference meet. He qualified to compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships and placed 20th to earn all-region honors.
On the women's side, Temple graduates standout distance runner Jenna Dubrow who had been the Owls' No. 1 runner for her entire four-year career. The Jackson, N.J., native leaves the program after setting school records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m this past spring. Senior Blanca Fernandez, who enrolled at Temple in January, will compete for the Owls on the grass for the first time this fall. Fernandez earned All-America Second Team honors for both indoor and outdoor track this past year, and set school records in a total of five events. Fernandez is not a newcomer to the sport, having previously represented Spain at the Junior and U-23 levels.
Catherine Pinson returns for her sophomore season with the Owls after being Temple's number two runner throughout her debut campaign. She placed 31st overall at the American Athletic Conference Championships and fifth earlier in the season at the Penn State National Invitational.
The incoming class of six freshmen on the women's side is the largest Temple has ever brought in, and the most talented as well, according to Snyder. The group includes state champions, multiple all-state honorees and runners who brought their teams a huge amount of success during their high school careers.
The men's team also has a record-large class of seven freshmen joining the squad, and Snyder expects one or two to have an immediate impact.Â
Both squads will arrive on campus Aug. 18 to begin training in preparation for the opening meet at Duquesne on Sept. 5.
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Temple will compete in six races prior to the American Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 31. The conference meet, which will be hosted this year by East Carolina, will feature the Owls' top seven runners for both men and women.
The Owls will begin the season at the Duquesne Duals on Sept. 5 before returning home for their second race.
The annual Big 5 Invitational hosted by Temple will take place on Friday, Sept. 11 at Belmont Plateau in West Fairmount Park. The Owls will also host an alumni get-together in conjunction with their home meet, and they expect to have many former runners in attendance.
"This year marks the 50th anniversary of cross country racing on our home course at Belmont Plateau," said Snyder, "and I'm looking forward to having many of our alumni out at the race to support this year's team. It's always a competitive meet and a wonderful opportunity to test our fitness early in the season against the other teams in the city."
The following week will see Temple head to nearby Haverford College, and the Owls will then have a two-week break before competing in the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University on Oct. 2.
"Year in and year out, the Paul Short Invitational brings together many of the best cross country teams from across the United States," said Snyder. "It's a highly competitive field that will give our men and women a fantastic opportunity to race against the nation's best."
Some Temple runners will race on Oct. 10 in the Jack St. Clair Memorial Invite at Belmont Plateau before the final tune-up meet at Princeton on Oct. 17. That race will serve as a preview for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, which will also be hosted by Princeton on Nov. 13.
The ECAC/IC4A Championships are set for Nov. 21, as are the NCAA Championships for qualifying runners. The ECAC/IC4A Championships will be held at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., while the NCAA Championships will be hosted by the University of Louisville.
"Our schedule is geared toward having our teams prepared to run their best at the American Athletic Conference Championships at East Carolina on October 31," said Snyder. "The men have improved steadily over the past two years moving up from a ninth place finish in 2013 to sixth last fall. We'll look to build upon that momentum with both teams as we head into the Championship portion of our season."
The men's team is in strong shape for 2015, returning all of its runners from last season when the Owls received their first Mid-Atlantic Regional Ranking (14th) during Snyder's tenure. Leading the group are fifth-year senior Matt Kacyon, an all-region and all-conference honoree in 2014, and senior Alex Izewski. Three other seniors add depth to a veteran group, as Ryan DeBarberie, Owen Glatts and William Maltin all return for a final season. Â
Kacyon led the men's team with an eighth-place finish at last year's conference meet. He qualified to compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships and placed 20th to earn all-region honors.
On the women's side, Temple graduates standout distance runner Jenna Dubrow who had been the Owls' No. 1 runner for her entire four-year career. The Jackson, N.J., native leaves the program after setting school records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m this past spring. Senior Blanca Fernandez, who enrolled at Temple in January, will compete for the Owls on the grass for the first time this fall. Fernandez earned All-America Second Team honors for both indoor and outdoor track this past year, and set school records in a total of five events. Fernandez is not a newcomer to the sport, having previously represented Spain at the Junior and U-23 levels.
Catherine Pinson returns for her sophomore season with the Owls after being Temple's number two runner throughout her debut campaign. She placed 31st overall at the American Athletic Conference Championships and fifth earlier in the season at the Penn State National Invitational.
The incoming class of six freshmen on the women's side is the largest Temple has ever brought in, and the most talented as well, according to Snyder. The group includes state champions, multiple all-state honorees and runners who brought their teams a huge amount of success during their high school careers.
The men's team also has a record-large class of seven freshmen joining the squad, and Snyder expects one or two to have an immediate impact.Â
Both squads will arrive on campus Aug. 18 to begin training in preparation for the opening meet at Duquesne on Sept. 5.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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