DAYTON – The University of Dayton men's and women's cross country teams will open up the 2021 season this week, as they will both visit nearby Wright State University for the Mike Baumer Invitational Friday evening.
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The women's team was picked to finish first in the preseason Atlantic 10 Coaches Poll, and will look to start things off on the right foot Friday. After finishing second in the Atlantic 10 Championships a season ago, the Flyers look poised to dominate the conference on the women's side, led by seniorÂ
Emily Sreenan. Emily won Dayton's Most Valuable Runner last year, after finishing 4
th in the A-10 Championships, helping UD finish runner-up in the team standings with a fifth best all-time 17:24.9 individually in the 5K. The performance allowed her to be named to the 2020-21 Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team.
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Thursday afternoon brought with it the release of the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll on the men's side, and the Flyers were picked to finish in a tie for fourth with Saint Joseph's. Dayton returns seven of their top eight runners from the spring season that saw the Flyers compete in just two meets due to COVID-19 and adverse weather. These include reigning A-10 All-Rookie Team honoree redshirt sophomoreÂ
Matthew Sollenberger, as well as juniorÂ
Calan Gizelbach who had the best individual finish for the Flyers in the Atlantic 10 Championship meet on Mar. 5
th.
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The weather forecast is very promising for Friday evening, with temperatures in the low 70's with mostly sunny skies. The meet will be held at Fairborn Community Park, located directly near interstate 675.
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