Upper Merion Girls' Cross Country Preview

08/22/12 11:15pm Posted by editor

UPPER MERION GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW

Coach: Matt Collins (7^th year)

Assistant coaches: Dave Symonds, Mike Francis

Last year’s record: 3-3 league record (3^rd place in Suburban One American Conference) Districts: finished 13^th out of 33 teams in AAA and 35^th out of 65 teams in AAA/AAAA combined

Notable losses: Amber McAteer was the lone senior graduate. She’s running cross country and track at the University of Pittsburgh.

Key returners: Ashley Anderson (11), Coleen Butler (11), Zeinab Bakillah (11), Irene Argiris (10), Gab Hnatin (10)

Others to watch: Esther Grambs (12), Kristen Bowes (12), Anecia Alexaki (11), Mads Rushlau (10), Hope Lu (9), Hannah Montalvo (9), Jordan Almonte (9), Ariel Chui (12), Grace Eppinger (10), Katie Przeworski (10)

Outlook: “The Upper Merion girls will be looking to continue what’s been a gradual improvement in the program the last couple of seasons. Last year’s team lost their best runner, Amber McAteer, to graduation. The bright side is that everyone else is returning. Three juniors, Ashley Anderson, Coleen Butler, and Zeinab Bakillah, were All-League selections last year and will be expected to step-up and fill the void left by McAteer. Sophomores Irene Argiris and Gab Hnatin should also be key contributors after solid freshmen seasons.”