Sept. 14, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - For the first time in two years, the Catamount cross country teams will be able to display their talent in front of a hometown crowd. After a one-year hiatus, the Western Carolina Open, featuring a total of 14 teams representing seven schools, is set for tomorrow afternoon (Friday) at 5:00 pm on-campus.
In addition to the host Catamounts, schools scheduled to compete include Georgia, UNC Asheville, Gardner-Webb, East Tennessee State, Milligan College and SoCon rival, Appalachian State. Georgia and Western will also compete head-to-head in a dual meet this weekend.
Recent construction on and the expansion of the Cullowhee campus prevented Western from hosting an event last season. However, WCU head coach Danny Williamson and his staff have mapped out a new course along the mountainous terrain that again promises to test and challenge runners.
"We are very happy to again be able to offer our student-athletes the opportunity to compete at home in front of their friends in Cullowhee," said Williamson, who is a WCU alum. "With the growth our campus has experienced, it was difficult to find suitable ground to hold a collegiate cross country meet. But through a lot of hard work by the athletic department and especially my staff, this meet has returned."
Weather forecasts indicate mostly sunny skies with the temperatures reaching the upper 70s on Friday and should be hanging in the mid-to-upper 70s at the start of the women's race at 5:00 pm. Two schools - Appalachian State and UNC Asheville - will be traveling in from equal or higher elevations to Western's average elevation above sea level of 2,800 feet. However, it may affect the other four schools which will be making the climb into the Great Smoky Mountains from lower elevations. Georgia in Athens, Ga., is around 807 feet above sea level, which is comparable to Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. at 846 ft. Johnson City, Tenn., home of the ETSU Buccaneers, is slightly lower than Cullowhee at 1,635 ft, while Milligan College is at a height of 1,519 feet.
The Catamounts are led on the men's side by senior Dan Fassinger, who will be competing against several of his former teammates this weekend. Fassinger transferred to Western from Georgia prior to the fall last season. On the women's side, junior Kerrie Savery will lead the Cats coming off a second-place finish last weekend at the season-opening Clemson Invitational. Earlier this week, Savery was honored for her prowess both on and off the trail by being named the SoCon's TIAA-CREF Student-Athlete of the Week.
Western's course begins and ends around the Catamount Athletic Complex (CAC) and Charles Schrader Field, which is adjacent the new track facility, and winds around the lower portion of campus. Admission to the event is free, with visitors recommended to park in the lot that runs parallel with Cullowhee Creek across from the CAC near the Catamount Softball Complex.
Full results of the 2006 Western Carolina Open will be made available on Friday evening following the event. Check back with CatamountSports.com for more information.
