The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/157974
Junior Joanna Thompson was NC State's lead runner in all five races last fall, and she is a twotime All-ACC and all-region performer. photo by Cheryl Treworgy/nc state media relations Henes is confident that NC State should be one of those teams. The Wolfpack finished fourth in the league a year ago, just missing third place by four points. Joanna Thompson — a junior, a twotime all-conference performer in cross country and an All-American in track this past spring — was the Pack's lead runner in every race last fall. Samantha George, the 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year, and Samantha Norman, a fifth-year senior, both earned All-ACC honors a year ago, giving State three all-conference performers for the first time since winning the conference in blowout fashion in 2006. "Those three were major factors for us last year," Henes said. "Joanna's certainly the leader of that group. She's been very consistent. "Samantha Norman had a back problem that held her back a little in track, but she had a real breakthrough in cross country last year. Sammi George followed up being Freshman of the Year with a good track season. She should be a major factor for us this fall in cross country." George was one of three standout newcomers on the 2012 roster. Kaitlyn Kramer finished in the Wolfpack's top five in four meets, including the ACC Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional. She was the third freshman across the finish line at the ACC Championships. The third member of last year's freshman class, Megan Moye, redshirted but still had an outstanding 2012-13 school year. A high school All-American in track and cross country, Moye ran unattached last year in both sports. After the school year, she just missed earning a spot on the United States team that participated in the Junior Pan Am Games. Athletes To Watch Junior Joanna Thompson Thompson is a two-time all-conference and all-region performer in cross country and finished seventh at the conference meet a year ago. She also earned All-America honors outdoors in the 10,000 meters this past spring. She was the Pack's lead runner in all five races last fall. Sophomore Samantha George The 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year and an All-ACC performer after finishing 13th at the ACC Championships, George represented Team USA in the junior women's 4,000-meter race at the NACAC Cross Country Championships Jan. 26 in Mandeville, Jamaica, and finished fifth overall. Fifth-year senior Samantha Norman Norman had her breakthrough season a year ago, earning All-ACC and all-region honors. In the spring she battled a bad back, but was an NCAA qualifier in the steeplechase. Henes has five runners to build her team around, and she has enough returning depth that there should be strong competition for starting spots. Fifth-year senior Halsey Merritt had a very good summer of conditioning and is one of a handful of North Carolina athletes vying for spots in the lineup. Olivia Enright, Alexa Harvey, and Deanna and Erin Foshee are redshirt sophomores, still young but veterans of the program, and all could push for starting nods. Then there is a wild-card factor that could play a role for the Wolfpack. Henes has three former All-Americans returning from physical problems, and while it may be too much to expect any of the three to regain their past form, all capable veterans who know what it takes to win at the highest level. Fourth-year junior Kenyetta Iyevbele is the school record-holder in the 800 meters in track and was a 2011 All-American in that event outdoors. She has yet to run at that level in cross country, but she was a regular in the lineup in 2011 and performed well. She is eminently capable of a breakthrough this fall. Iyevbele suffered a freak stress fracture during the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and did not compete the entire 2012-13 school year. Redshirt junior Laura Hoerr lined up in six cross country meets as a true freshman in 2010 and won four of them, including the ACC Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional. She earned All-America honors with a 21st-place finish at the NCAA Championships. She missed the 2012 season with lower-leg issues. Emily Pritt was an All-American as a sophomore in 2009, but battled hip problems the last three years. The NCAA recently granted her a special medical hardship restoring a sixth year of eligibility. Finally healthy enough to compete, she will line up with the Wolfpack this season. "Not having those three in the workout groups last year was huge," Henes said. "You don't just replace people who were in the top 25 at the NCAAs. If they're healthy and in the lineup, they could really help us be where we'd like to finish." ■ 26 21 11 5 ■ By The Numbers Appearances by the NC State women at the NCAA Championships — an NCAA record. Brigham Young is second with 25 appearances. ACC team championships for the Wolfpack. Individual ACC champions for NC State. Returning athletes who ran in the 2012 NCAA Southeast Regional. 68 ■ the wolfpacker 66,68.Women's Cross Country Preview.indd 68 8/23/13 2:48 PM