The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1013591
SEPTEMBER 2018 ■ 73 Rutto are two more runners who gained experience last year. Rutto was third fastest for NC State at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. Geiger said that the key to a good cross country team is having good finishers in the front of the race and a strong grouping. "I think we have both of those lineups," the veteran coach said. "I think we have athletes that can finish and penetrate in a race and be in the top group, and I think we also have the depth." Which is why Geiger does not foresee NC State being the last team to make the NCAA Championships this year. He said with all the returning experience it's time to start competing again for the ACC title, being a top finisher in the regional and fin- ishing as a top-10 team at nationals. "They want to be much better than top 20," he said. "The goal of the program is to make it to nationals and then be a top-10 program. "The expectations are higher than that this year." ■ Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com Runners To Watch Senior Philip Hall Hall, a product of South View High in Fayetteville, N.C., was NC State's best finisher at the 2017 ACC Championships in Louisville, Ky., finishing in 14th place overall to earn All-ACC laurels. Hall also took second place running unattached at the season- opening adidas XC Challenge. Senior Elijah Moskowitz The Amherst, N.H., native was NC State's third- fastest runner at the 2017 NCAA Championships, finishing 95th to improve his overall standing by nearly 150 places from his sophomore year. Mos - kowitz was also the Wolfpack's best finisher in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (26th) and the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational (51st), with the latter being one of the most prestigious meets nationally in cross country. Sophomore Ian Shanklin During his rookie season, the product of Page High in Greensboro, N.C., ran five times, including twice unattached, and saved his best for last. He was the Wolfpack's top finisher and lone All-Region performer in the NCAA Southeast Regional, placing 19th, and is NC State's top returner from the NCAA Championships meet, where he finished 75th. ■ By The Numbers 10 Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships for NC State, the goal of this year's team. The top finish was third in 1999. 13 Times Rollie Geiger has been named the ACC Coach of the Year in men's cross country. He has also won the award 15 times on the women's side before Laurie Henes took over the program in 2006. 40 ACC team championships that Geiger has coached in his career, counting his tenure in women's cross country, and as the track and field head coach.