McCandless, Hull finish first for Pitt in Big East race

Throughout the season, the Pitt cross-county teams have competed against some of the elite… Throughout the season, the Pitt cross-county teams have competed against some of the elite teams in the nation and Friday at the Big East Championships the competition wasn’t any easier.

The conference, in both the men’s and women’s cross-country national rankings, boasts nine nationally ranked teams and, despite the high level of competition, the Panthers continued to show marked improvements in their individual performances.

Leading the Panther women’s team for the fifth consecutive race this season and to a 10th place conference finish was sophomore Maureen McCandless, who finished in 21 minutes, 34 seconds.

McCandless’ 24th place finish also placed inside the top 10 sophomore finishers in the conference.

“Maureen could easily be a top runner on any team in country,” coach Waddie Freeman said. “I think Maureen will have her best race at the regional meet where she could earn all region honors as well as qualify for nationals.”

Finishing second for the Panthers and 57th overall was Rachel Rothe with a time of 22:59. Close on the heels of Rothe in 61st place was freshman Kelly O’Connell, who finished only four seconds behind Rothe.

Completing the six-kilometer course in less than a minute behind O’Connell in a time of 23:46 was Nicola Angstadt, who finished in 81st place.

“Kelly and Nikki both had good races and are doing very well,” Freeman noted.

Rounding out the top five for the Panthers was junior Dawn Hilgert who raced to a 91st place finish in a time of 24:13.

“In the Big East Conference you can’t really look at the place, because the Big East is by far the best conference in the country,” Freeman said. We’re looking forward to the regional race, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the women’s team placed inside the top 10.”

In the men’s race the Panthers dashed to a 12th place finish in the Big East. Leading the way for Pitt in 45th place was junior Dan Hull, who completed the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25:43.

“Dan dropped his time more than a minute from the last time he ran this course,” Freeman said.

After Hull, the Panthers packed the remainder of their team close together, with all completing the course in just more than 1 1/2 minutes behind Hull.

Jeryl Wilborn finished second with a time of 26:11, which earned him a 66th place finish. On the heels of Wilborn was sophomore Nick Westerman in 70th place.

Following Westerman was junior Mike Diano in 77th place with a time of 26:32. Then completing the top five for Pitt was Andy Zang who dashed to an 87th place finish.

“Overall as a team, we had three runners turn in their best times of the season, but we need a little more help,” Freeman said. “If someone else had stepped up seventh place in the conference could have happened.”

The Panthers return to action when they travel to the Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia for the NCAA regional race Nov. 16.

“The regional race will be a real challenge because the race will be our first race of the season at altitude,” Freeman said.