2012 Men's Cross Country Media Guide

2012

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITYMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Southern Conference Champions1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001

2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

NCAA Championship Appearances1994

National Rankings20th (1994)

2012 AppAlAchiAn StAte croSS country

2 2012 Mountaineer Cross Country GoASU.com

COACHES

Michael CurcioHead Coach

John WeaverDirector of Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Weaver is in his 31st season as the director of the women’s track and cross country program and in his 17th season as the director of both the women’s and men’s programs at Ap-palachian State University. Weaver assumed the duties of directing both programs in the fall of 1995.

A 1971 graduate of Appalachian in biology, Weaver returned to ASU in 1979 to assist the men’s program while earning his masters in biology. During his three-year tenure as the men’s assistant, he trained two NCAA qualifiers and seven Southern Conference champions. Weaver took over the full-time coaching duties for the women’s program in 1982. Since that time, the program, including cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, has produced an NCAA Division I Na-tional Champion in the 1500m twice, nine NCAA Division I all-Americans with 23 all-American performances, 18 NCAA Division I qualifiers, 257 Southern Conference individual champion performances, 718 all-con-ference performances, 27 conference MVP athletes, 40 conference team championships, 24 conference coach-of-the-year honors, 13 conference freshman of the year honors and two Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors. Since 2003, when the NCAA began competition on a Regional level, the Mountaineers have sent 49 athletes to the regional meet. After taking over the men’s program in 1995, the Mountaineers have produced two NCAA Division I all-Americans, four NCAA All-Amer-ican performances, 11 Division I Qualifiers, 203 Southern Conference in-dividual champion performances, 479 all-conference performers, 10 con-ference MVP’s, 25 conference team championships, 11 coach-of-the-year honors, three conference freshman of the year and two Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors. App State has also sent 42 athletes to Regional competition.

Appalachian has qualified 42 men and 49 women athletes to the East Region with eight NCAA Championship qualifying performances coming out of the region for Appalachian. In 2004, ASU had its first East Region champion with a first place finish in the men’s 100 meter dash. Coach Weaver has also worked as the Yosef Club Director (athletic fundraising arm of the ASU Foundation Inc.) from 1982-1985. He also taught classes in the Education and Physical Education departments of the univer-sity. A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Weaver graduated from Seventy-First High School in 1967. He earned his bachelor of science degree in 1971 from Appalachian, returning to Fayetteville to teach biology and eventually take over the cross country and track programs at Douglas Byrd High School in 1972. His cross country dual meet record over eight years was an impressive 71-11 and his teams won six conference titles while competing in four state championships. His track team also produced many individual conference and regional champions, along with several state meet qualifiers. Currently, Coach Weaver coaches the sprinters, hurdlers, multi-event athletes and relays, while over-seeing all aspects of the program. He is also serving an appointment to the NCAA Division I Track and Cross Country Committee effective September of 2006 and active until September of 2010. Each summer, Weaver also directs the Grandfather Mountain Marathon, The Bear Road Race and two Cross Country team camps. Over 1,000 athletes at-tend camp at App State each summer.

Mike Curcio is in his 18th year as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach and track and field distance coach at Appalachian State Univer-sity.

The 2012 campaign was a banner year for the Mountaineers’ middle-distance/distance runners on the track as Curcio helped coach three athletes

who broke five school records. Will Raby set the school record for the 5,000-meter event in indoor track, while Alex Taylor and Chris Moen teamed up with two sprinters to set the school record in the distance medley relay for indoor track at the SoCon Championships. Taylor set the App State record in the 800 and 1500-meter events while teaming up with Moen and two of Ap-palachian’s sprinters to break a 28-year old ASU record in the distance med-ley relay at the 2012 Penn Relays.

Curcio coached four men to the first round of the NCAA Championships in 2012 in outdoor track, as Taylor qualified for both the 800 and 1,500-meter events and Moen, Sean Soderman and Josh Cox all qualified for the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Curcio’s cross country teams have been very successful under his tenure, as they have captured one women’s Southern Conference titles and 10 men’s SoCon championships, including six-straight men’s titles from 2005-10

During his time at App State, Curcio has coached nine NCAA Qualifiers, 16 NCAA Regional Qualifiers, 19 USATF Junior National Qualifiers and seven Southern Conference Cross Country Freshman of the Year.

In addition to those feats, Curcio has also coached 88 all-Southern Confer-ence Cross Country performers and four Southern Conference Cross Country individual champions.

While coaching the distance runners for ASU track and field, Curcio has coached 59 athletes to SoCon indoor and outdoor individual champion

performances and 203 runners to all-conference indoor and outdoor perfor-mances. He has also coached two athletes to SoCon indoor track and field MVP awards and two outdoor track and field MVP awards.

As athletic excellence is important, Curcio and his teams also strive for success in academics. Since being at ASU, Curcio has coached two NCAA post graduate scholarship award winners, one Southern Conference post graduate scholarship award winner, three Mrs. Brakefield award recipients, for an ASU senior student-athlete with the highest GPA, and 12 USTFCCCA academic all-Americans.

During the 2011-12 season, both the App State men’s and women’s re-corded multi-year APR scores well above the national average while the men were recognized with an NCAA Public Recognition Award for compiling a four-year APR of 1,000 and ranking among the top 10 percent of all teams in the nation.

For all of his efforts, in 2003 Curcio was named the USTCA Division I Men’s National Assistant Coach of the Year for Distance. He also has been recog-nized by the Southern Conference for his team’s impressive performances, being named the SoCon’s men’s cross country coach of the year nine times.

Before coming to Appalachian, Curcio served as an assistant at Florida State from 1988-1992.

In the spring of 1993, he became an assistant at South Florida, where he helped build a fledgling track and field program, along with a nationally-ranked cross country program.

The track women at USF won three conference titles in the first four years of the program’s existence. The men’s and women’s cross country teams were ranked as high as 12th and 21st in Division I during his tenure.

Curcio hails from Long Island, N.Y. where he attended Newfield High School before attending and competing for Appalachian State University. He was a three-time all-SoCon selection in track and still ranks seventh all-time in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 3:49.60.

2 2012 Mountaineer Cross Country GoASU.com GoASU.com 2012 Mountaineer Cross Country 3


Date Meet Location Time Aug. 31 Covered Bridge Open Boone, N.C. 5 p.m. Sept. 14 Mountaineer Open Boone, N.C. 5 p.m. Sept. 15 Winthrop Open Rock Hill, S.C. 10 a.m. Sept. 28 The Paul Short Run Bethlehem, Pa. 10 a.m. Sept.28 Charlotte 49er Open Charlotte, N.C. 4 p.m. Oct. 12 Blue Ridge Open Boone, N.C. 3 p.m. Oct. 12 Royal Challenge Charlotte, N.C. 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 NCAA Pre-Nationals Louisville, Ky. 10 a.m. Oct. 27 SoCon Championships Mount Pleasant, S.C. 9:45 a.m. Nov. 9 NCAA Southeast Regionals Charlotte, N.C. 9:45 a.m. Nov. 17 NCAA National Championships Louisville, Ky. 10 a.m.

SCHEDULE

Name Class Hometown/Previous School Jonathan Bivens Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Weddington Josh Cox RSo. Mooresville, N.C./Charlotte Josh Ellis Fr. Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson Michael Ellis Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. Tabor Chris Garrett So. Garner, N.C./West Johnson Brian Graves Sr. Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson James Howard-Smith RJr. Chalottesville, Va./Western Albemarle Robert Kovach Fr. Asheville, N.C./TC Roberson Michael Lilley Sr. Hagerstown, Md./Williamsport Kyle McFoy RFr. Newark, Del./The Tatnall School Mitch McLeod Fr. Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill Will Raby Sr. Charlotte, N.C./McCallie School Mason Rivera RFr. Parkton, Md./Hereford Ashton Smith RFr. Huntington, W.Va./Huntington Sean Soderman Sr. Charlotte, N.C./North Mecklenberg Mark Sullivan Jr. Raleigh, N.C./South Alabama Alex Taylor Sr. Charlotte, N.C./Providence Andrew Vandenberg Fr. Boone, N.C./Watauga

ROSTER

Appalachian State University men’s cross country enters the 2012 season looking to get back to the top of the Southern Conference after its string of six-straight conference titles was snapped last season with a fourth-place finish at the SoCon Champion-ship.

The Mountaineers will rely heavily on a pair of seniors to lead them this year in 2011 All-SoCon selections Alex Taylor and Will Raby. Taylor cap-tured eighth-place at last year’s conference cham-pionships while Raby came in ninth. Brian Graves, another senior, was also impressive at the SoCon Championship with a top-30 finish.

Appalachian also returns several others who posted solid finishes in the conference title meet a year ago. James Howard-Smith posted a 24th-place finish in just his sophomore season while Chris Gar-rett showed much promise as a freshman by finish-

ing in the top-50 at the SoCon Championships.App State opens its campaign at home with the Cov-

ered Bridge Open on Aug. 31 and remains in Boone for the Mountaineer Open on Sept. 14.

The Apps hit the road on Sept. 15 with a meet at Winthrop before the squad heads to Charlotte for the 49er Invite on Sept. 28.

The Mountaineers host their final home meet of the season on Oct. 12 with the Blue Ridge Open, while part of the squad travels to the Royals Challenge that same day. The Mountaineers will compete in the NCAA Pre-National meet on Oct. 13 before the team heads to the SoCon Championship in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on Oct. 27.

The NCAA Southeast Regional is scheduled for Nov. 9 in Charlotte where runners will compete for a spot in the NCAA Championships, which take place in Louis-ville, Ky. on Nov. 17.

SEASON PREVIEw



Jonathan Bivens - Fr. - Charlotte, N.C./WeddingtonHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000m – 15:38.00Outdoor: 800m – 2:01.60... 3,200m – 9:36.11...1,600m – 4:27.95High School: Placed second with a time of 15:51.00 at the 2011 NCHSAA State Championship...won the 2011 NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional with a time of 15:45.00 and took home the title at the prestigious Wendy’s Invitational in his senior season...earned a eighth-place finish in the 1,600-meters at the 2012 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championships...finished second in the 3,200m in the 2012 3A North Carolina Outdoor State Championships, behind App State teammate Mitch McLeod

Josh Cox - (RS) So. - Mooresville N.C./ Mooresville (Charlotte) PR’s Cross Country: 8,000m - 25:57.9... 10,000m - 35:06.8Indoor: 800m – 2:07.20...One Mile –4:29.64...3,000m – 8:49.13Outdoor: 1,500m – 4:05.67... 3,000m steeplechase – 9:03.31... 5,000m – 14:54.962011-12 Cross Country: Redshirted...Indoor: Competed in four meets for Appalachian...finished seventh in the 5,000m at the Dick Taylor Invitational...ran a 8:49.13 in the 3,000m at the JDL Fast Track Collegiate Invitational...Outdoor: finished first in the 3,000m steeplechase, running a 9:28.82 at the Coastal Carolina University Invitational...posted a second place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase at the SoCon Outdoor Champion-ships, garnering all-SoCon honors...ranks sixth all-time at ASU in the 3,000m steeplechase, running a 9:03.31 at the Duke Invitational...finished sixth at the SoCon Outdoor Champi-onships in the 5,000m...helped the Apps to its third-straight SoCon Outdoor title as a top performer in the 3,000m steeple-chase...qualified for the NCAA East Preliminaries in the 3,000m steeplechase2010-11 (Charlotte) Cross Country: Competed in every meet for the 49ers...ran his best 8,000m race, 26:09.3, at the Charlotte Invitational...helped his squad to a second place finish at the Clemson Invitational...Indoor: Placed 13th at JRF Combined Events/Invitational in the 3,000m

Josh Ellis - Fr. - Bethesda, Md./Walter JohnsonHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000m – 15:59.60... Three Mile – 16:37.20Indoor: 1,000m – 2:40.70... 1,600m – 4:26.66... 3,200m – 9:32.81... 800m – 2:03.53... One Mile – 4:20.73Outdoor: 1,600m – 4:20.59...800m – 1:58.80High School: Helped guide Walter Johnson to their fourth straight state championship with a third place finish at the 4A state meet...ran a personal-best 15:59.6 at the Nike NXN South-east Regional to finish 40th out of 255 runners and helped his team finish in seventh-place...was a member of the All-Ameri-can 4x800-meter indoor relay team as a sophomore

Michael Ellis - Fr. - Winston-Salem, N.C./Mt. TaborHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000m – 16:12.00Indoor:1,600m – 4:59.10...Two Mile – 9:41.45Outdoor:1,600m – 4:33.53...3,200m – 9:31.53...800m – 2:07.70...One Mile – 4:28.08...Two Miie – 9:41.45High School: Named all-conference three times...was named all-region in both his junior and senior seasons...received both the Coaches Award and Most Improved for cross country...earned the Coaches Award two times for track...finished fourth in the 4A North Carolina High School State Championships in the 3,200m, posting a 9:31.53

Chris Garrett - So. - Garner, N.C./ West JohnstonPR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 25:53.05Indoor: 3,000m – 8:42.97... 800m – 1:59.72... One Mile – 4:17.432011-12 Cross Country: Competed in five meets as a true freshman for Appalachian...posted a season-best 20:22.10 at the Mountaineer Open...helped the team to a fourth place fin-ish at the Covered Bridge Open...Indoor: Competed in three meets on the season...had a fifth place finish in the 3,000m at the Niswonger Foundation Invitational...ran a 4:17.43 in the mile at the Penn State Sykes and Sabock Challenge Cup... Outdoor: Did not competeHigh School: All-state in cross country with a runner-up fin-ish his senior season...finished 15th in the Foot Locker Cross Country South Regional...earned all-conference three times in cross country and was a three-time all-state performer in track and field...state champion in the 1,600m in the 2011 indoor championship

Brian Graves - Sr. - Bethesda, Md./Walter JohnsonPR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 25:22.00Indoor: 3,000m – 8:44.71...5,000m – 15:06.77Outdoor: 5,000m – 14:59.28...10,000m – 31:15.032011-12 Cross Country: Competed in five meets for the Mountaineers...finished 30th at the SoCon Championships, with a time of 25:28.58...recorded a season-best 20:21.60 at the Mountaineer Open...Indoor: Competed in two meets....fin-ished seventh in the 3,000m at the Niswonger Foundation In-vitational...ran a 15:18.60 in the 5,000m at the Penn State Sykes and Sabock Challenge Cup...Outdoor: Did not compete2010-11 Cross Country: Redshirted...Indoor: Finished third at the Appalachian Pre-Conference meet...Outdoor: Did not compete2009-10 Cross Country: Name to the SoCon all-freshman team after 23rd place finish at conference championships...posted career-best 8k time of 25:22 at Paul Short Run in Beth-lehem, Pa...Outdoor: Finsihed six in the 5k and seventh in the 10k at the SoCon Outdoor Championships2008-09 Cross Country: Redshirted High School: 4A State Runner-up in 3,200m run (indoor)

James Howard-Smith - (RS) Jr. - Charlottesville, Va./ Western AlbemarlePR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 25:20.01Indoor: 800m – 1:58.07... 3,000m – 9:01.91... One Mile – 4:18.95Outdoor: 1,500m – 4:04.89... 800m – 1:58.35... 3,000m steeple-chase – 9:48.102011-12 Cross Country: Competed in five meets for the Black and Gold...completed the Covered Bridge Open in 26:40.20, for a 29th place finish...posted a season-best 20:34.50 at the Mountaineer Open...Indoor: Ran in three meets...finished sixth in the 800m at the Appalachian Pre-Conference Indoor Open Split Track Meet...posted a 9:01.91 in the 3,000m at the Niswonger Invitational...Outdoor: Competed in three meets...posted a third place finish in the 3,000 steeplechase at the Beaches vs. Mountains Race...finished sixth in the 4x4 at the SoCon Outdoor Championships2010-11 Cross Country: Earned a season top finish 16th place at the Asics-Winthrop Invitational...competed in three meets...Indoor: Competed in two meets...earned a seventh place fin-ish in the 800m at the Appalachian Pre-Conference meet2009-10 Cross Country: Competed in two races as a fresh-man for the Mountaineers...finished 24th in season opening Covered Bridge Open, posting a season-best time of 20:56High School: Two-time all-american in distance medley relay, first place in 2008, fourth place in 2009...regional outdoor mile champion as a senior...placed third at Foot-Locker cross coun-try sophomore race (2006)

2012 Mountaineers



Robert Kovach - Fr. - Asheville, N.C./TC RobersonHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000m – 16:16.00Indoor:1,600m – 4:38.80... One Mile – 4:38.95Outdoor:1,000m – 2:40.50... 1,600m – 4:27.03... 3,200m – 9:52.86... 800m – 2:02.57...One Mile – 4:28.63... Two Mile – 9:49.04High School: Named all-region one time for cross country...voted team MVP in both cross country and track.

Michael Lilley - Sr. - Hagerstown, Md./WilliamsportPR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 25:33.79Indoor: 3,000m – 8:34.26... 5,000m – 15:02.62... One Mile – 4:28.55Outdoor: 3,000m – 8:58.95... 5,000m – 14:51.05... 10,000m – 31:24.792011-12 Cross Country: Competed in all six meets as one of App States top runners...finished 24th at the Covered Bridge Open..ran a 25:33.79 at the SoCon Championships, which was good for 33rd...Indoor: Put up an 8:56.35 in the 3,000m which was good for second place at the Appalachian Pre-Conference Split Indoor Open Track Meet...finished sixth in the 5,000m at the Niswonger Foundation Invitational...ran a 15:30.12 at the SoCon Indoor Championships for a 15th place finish in the 5,000m...Outdoor: Earned all-SoCon in the 10,000, finishing fifth with a time of 32:00.78...posted an eighth place finish in the 5,000 at the SoCon Outdoor Championships...ran a per-sonal record 14:51.05 at the Swarthmore College Last Chance Meet2010-11 Cross Country: Helped ASU win its sixth-straight conference title...competed in five meets...set a new personal record in the 6,400m, 20:43.75, at the Covered Bridge Open...Indoor: Finished 12th at the SoCon Championships in the 5,000m and 15th in the 3,000m...earned a second place fin-ish in the 3,000m at the Appalachian Pre-Conference meet... Outdoor: Competed in three meets...finished sixth in the 5,000m at the Wake Forest Invitational2009-10 Cross Country: Competed in two events as a fresh-man for the Mountaineers...placed 25th and posted a season-best time of 20:58 at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone in his collegiate debut...ran season best 8,000m at Paul Shot Run (25:42)...Track and Field: Placed sixth in the 10,000m at 2010 USATF Junior Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa (32:30.42)High School: Placed third in state cross country meet...won state titles in 4x800 relay and 3,200 meter run at Maryland in-door championships...placed first in 3,200 meter run, second in 1600 meter, and fifth in the 4x800 relay at Maryland out-door championships...Maryland indoor state champion in the 1600 meter run

Kyle McFoy - (RS) Fr. - Newark, Del./ The Tatnall SchoolPR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 26:02.4Indoor: 800m – 2:07.84... 3,000m – 8:53.74.... One Mile – 4:32.77Outdoor:800m – 2:04.16... 1,500m – 4:10.11... 3,000m steeple-chase – 10:08.022011-12 Cross Country: Redshirted...Indoor: Ran in five meets...posted a fifth place finish in the mile and the 800m at the Appalachian Split Open...helped his team to a sixth place finish in the dual medlay relay at the Dick Taylor Invitational...Outdoor: Competed in three meets...finished third in the 3,000m steeplechase, running a 10:08.02 a the Appalachian Open Outdoor Track Meet...had a fourth place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase at the South Carolina InvitationalHigh School: Named two-time all-state honors in cross coun-try...member of two team state cross country championships...earned all-conference two times in cross country...two-time all-county honors in cross country and track & field

2012 MountaineersMitch McLeod - Fr. - Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel HillHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000m – 15:33.00Outdoor: 1,500m – 4:12.52... 1,600m – 4:24.18... 3,000m – 8:59.00... 3,200m – 9:17.17... 800m – 2:08.04... One Mile – 4:21.60... Two Mile – 9:52.05High School: Helped lead his team to a 3A Division State title as a junior and a runner-up finish as a senior...led his 2010 team to a ninth-place finish at Nike’s NxN Southeast Competition and fin-ished 56th out of 228 individuals and took the 3A State title in the 3,200-meters as a junior...earned all-state, all-region and all-conference recognition as a junior and senior and was a member of the Chapel Hill High School record breaking 4x800 relay team...was the 4A NC High School State Champion in the 3,200m, edg-ing out App State teammate Jonathan Bivens

Will Raby - Sr. - Charlotte, N.C./McCallie SchoolPR’s Cross Country: 8,000m – 24:41.49Indoor: 3,000m – 8:22.65... 5,000m – 14:30.43... One Mile – 4:28.25Outdoor: 1,500m – 3:55.91... 3,000m – 8:32.21... 5,000m – 14:46.84... 10,000m – 30:29.382011-12 Cross Country: Competed in five meets for ASU...post-ed a 26:10.60 at the Covered Bridge Open...helped the team to a second place finish at the Mountaineer Open....named second team all-SoCon after a ninth place finish at the SoCon Champion-ships...Indoor: Posted a third place finish in the 5,000m at the So-Con Champioship, earning all-SoCon honors...garnered all-SoCon recognition running a season-best 8:22.65 in the 3,000m at the SoCon Championship, ranking him third all-time in App State his-tory...broke the school record in the 5,000m with his 14:30.43 in the SoCon Championships...Outdoor: Competed in two meets....put up a first place finish in the 5,000m at the Wake Forest Open, posting a personal best 14:46.84...finished sixth in the 10,000m at the SoCon Outdoor Championship, running a 32:09.782010-11 Cross Country: Led ASU to its sixth-straight confer-ence title with a eighth place finish...finished third at the Asics-Winthrop Invitational..was the Apps top performer at the NCAA Southeast Regional...set a personal record at the 8,000m Brooks-Paul Short Run meet...Indoor: Competed in three meets, includ-ing the SoCon Indoor Championships...became second all-time in the 5,000m for his 15:36.91 time performence at the Akron Invitational-Gold and is behind teammate Sean Soderman...Outdoor: Won the 5,000m title at the SoCon Championships...earned all-conference honors with a fourth place finish in the 10,000m...finished first at the Beach vs. Mountain meet in the 3,000m...ranks fifth all-time in the 3,000m, running an 8:36.63...ranks seventh in ASU history in the 10,000m, posting a 30:29.382009-10 Cross Country: Competed in three meets for the Moun-taineers as a freshman, placing 26th at the Covered Bridge Open, 36th at the Mountaineer Open and 58th at the Blue Ridge OpenHigh School: Three time all-state nominee in cross country...twice named to Best of Preps cross country team by Chattanoo-ga Times-Free Press...placed third in 3,200 meter run at 2008 and 2009 Tennessee Outdoor State Championships

Mason Rivera - (RS) Fr. - Parkton, Md./ HerefordPR’s: Indoor: 800 meters - 2:07.94... Mile Run - 4:34.40... 3,000 me-ters - 8:59.42... 5,000 meters - 15:47.742011-12 Cross Country: Redshirted...Indoor: Competed in three meets...ran a 8:59.42 in the 3,000m at the JDL Fast Track Collegiate Invitational...Outdoor: Did not competeHigh School: Won the state cross country meet as a senior...two time Baltimore Sun all-metro honors in cross coutnry...combined six-time county champion in cross country and track



Ashton Smith - (RS) Fr. -Huntington, W.V./Hunting-tonPR’s: Cross Country: 8,000m – 26:25.2Indoor: Mile Run - 4:35.25... 3,000 meters - 8:58.84... 5,000 me-ters - 15:56.27Outdoor: 3,000 meters - 9:17.29... 5,000 meters - 15:51.03... 10,000 meters - 32:44.192011-12 Cross Country: Redshirted...Indoor: Ran in four meets on the season...finished eighth in the 3,000m at the Mountaineer Split Indoor Open Track Meet...posted a 4:35.25 for the one mile, which was a season best...Outdoor: Com-peted in three meets...posted a first place finish in the 5,000m at the Appalachian Open, running a 15:51.03...finished fourth in the 10,000m at the Wake Forest Open, posting a 32:44.19...particpated in the USA Junior Nationals at Indiana University, competing in the 10,000mHigh School: Earned two varsity letters in cross country and track and field...named two-time all-conference in cross coun-try

Sean Soderman - Sr. - Charlotte, N.C./North Mecklen-burgPR’s Cross Country: 8,000 meters - 24:38.00... 10,000 meters - 32:02.30Indoor: Mile Run - 4:26.62... 3,000 meters - 8:29.38... 5,000 me-ters - 14:32.99Outdoor: 800 meters - 1:56.89... 1,500 meters - 3:58.04... 5,000 meters - 14:22.16... 3,000-meter steeplechase - 8:56.822011-12 Cross Country: Did not compete...Indoor: Placed eighth in the 3,000m at the Southern Conference Champion-ships, earning all-SoCon honors and a personal record, post-ing a 8:29.38...ran a 14:40.18 in the 5,000m which was good for an eighth place finish...Outdoor: Finished second in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Duke Invitational...named all-SoCon after a third place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase at the SoCon Championships...posted a seventh place finish in the 5,000m at the SoCon Championships...ranks 10th all-time in the 5,000m, posting a 14:35.17 at the Raleigh Relays...ran a 9:01.21 in the 3,000m steeplechase at the NCAA Division 1 East Regional Preliminary Round2010-11 Cross Country: Earned all-conference with a 25:13.10 time at the conference meet...won the Asics-Winthrop In-vitional to help lead ASU the invitaional title...was the Apps top performer in four of the seven meets...Indoor: Set the school record in the 5,000m at the Akron Invitational-Gold...claimed the conferences title in the 5,000m...was a member of the second place distance medley team at the SoCon Indoor Championships...Outdoor: Earned the conference title in the 3,000m steeplechase...won the 3,000m steeplechase at the Beach vs. Mountains meet..placed first at the Raleigh Relays in the 5,000m...ranked third all-time in both the 3,000m steeple-chase and the 5,000m2009-10 Cross Country: Established new 8K personal best at the Paul Short Run clocking in with a time of 24:38...claimed first-team all-SoCon honors with a sixth place finish at the con-ference championship...Outdoor: Placed fifth in the 5,000m run at the SoCon Championships...captured third place in the 3,000m steeplechase at SoCon Championships2008-09 Cross Country: Finished 15th at the SoCon Cham-pionships, posting a season-best time of 25:34...named to the SoCon all-freshman team...placed first at the Raleigh Relays in the 5,000m...Indoor: Claimed third place in the 5,000m run at the SoCon Championships, earning all-SoCon honors...Outdoor:Placed fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase at SoCon Championships...won USATF Jr. National Championship in the 3,000m steeplechase..represtented the USA at the Pan-Am Ju-nior Games, place second in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Mark Sullivan - Jr. - Raleigh, N.C./ Cardinal Gibbons (South Alabama) PR’s Cross Country: Four-Mile Run... 20:51.94Indoor: Mile Run - 4:36.25... 3,000 meters - 9:12.82... 5,000 me-ters - 16:08.16Outdoor: 1,500 meters - 4:16.46... 3,000-meter steeplechase - 10:16.452011-12 Cross Country: Competed in four meets for the Apps...finished 58th at the SoCon Championships, with a time of 26:25.29...posted a season-best 20:51.70 at the Mountain-eer Open...Indoor: Participated in three meets...helped his team to a sixth place finish in the dual medley relay at the Dick Taylor Invitational...Outdoor: Competed in four meets...finished fifth with a 10:16.45 in the 3,000 steeplechase at the Appalachian Open Outdoor Track Meet.2010-11 (South Alabama) Cross Country: Earned a first-place finish at the four-mile Southern Mississippi Invitational...finished fifth at the Troy State ‘Coach “O” Invitational’...placed 20th at the Sun Belt Championships

Alex Taylor - Sr. - Charlotte, N.C./ProvidencePR’s Cross Country: 10,000 meters - 32:15.20... Four-Mile Run - 19:38.44... 8,000 meters - 24:33.28Indoor: 800 meters - 1:52.32... Mile Run - 4:05.73... 3,000 me-ters - 8:24.93...DMR – 10:00.90Outdoor: 800 meters - 1:49.80... 1,500 meters - 3:42.29... Mile Run - 4:10.64...DMR – 9:55.692011-12 Cross Country: Earned second-team all-SoCon honors with his eighth-place finish...finished fifth overall at the Covered Bridge Open...led the Mountaineers with a third-place finish at the Mountaineer Open...Indoor: Had a first place finish in the 3,000m at the Niswonger Foundation Invita-tional with a 8:24.93, which ranks him seventh all-time in App State history...named all-SoCon after a second place finish in the 800m at the SoCon Championships...ranks second all-time in the mile, running a personal best 4:05.73...rated third in the 800m after his performances at the SoCon Championships...finished the mile in 4:11.98 at the SoCon Championships, earning all-SoCon honors...posted a school relay record in the dual medley relays at the SoCon Championships, running a 10:00.90...Outdoor: Holds the all-time ASU record in the 800, posting a 1:49.80 at the Duke Invitational...garnered all-SoCon honors, finishing second in the 800m with a 1:54.97...rated 42nd in the NCAA Div. 1 East Region and 93rd in the NCAA Div. 1 Qualifiers in the 800m...finished first in the 1500m at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic, running a 3:45.26...posted a 3:50.72 in the 1500m, which was good for a second place finish and all-SoCon recognition...ranks 12th in the NCAA Div. 1 East Re-gion and 22nd in the NCAA Div. 1 Qualifiers in the 1500m...broke a 28 year old school record in the distance medley relay, running a 9:55.69 at the Penn Relays...ranked first all-time in the 1500m, running a 3:42.29 at the Virginia Challenge and breaking a 28 year old record...qualified for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round in the 800m and 1500m2010-11 Cross Country: Placed 11th at the SoCon Champi-onship to earn all-conference honors...earned a nineth place finish at the Asics-Winthrop Invitational...led the Mountaineers with a third-place finish at the Mountaineer Open...Indoor: Claimed the conference title in the mile...finished eighth in 800m at the SoCon Championships...was a member of the sec-ond place distance medley team at the SoCon Indoor Cham-pionships...Outdoor: Was a NCAA Qualifier in the 1,500m...fin-ished first in the 1,500m at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier Meet, Duke Twilight Meet and the Roanoke Twilight Meet...earned 12th place finish at the conference championships2009-10 Cross Country:Top finish came at the Mountaineer Open (28th)...turned in a time of 26:19 at the Blue Ridge Open (8k)...Indoor:Took fifth in the 800m and third in the mile at 2010 SoCon Championships...placed third in the 800m and 1,500m at 2010 conference meet...competed at 2010 USATF Junior Nationals in the 1,500m and finished ninth overall

2012 Mountaineers



Andrew Vandenberg - Fr. - Boone, N.C./WataugaHigh School PR’s Cross Country: 5,000 meters - 16:32.00Indoor: 3,000 meters - 10:08.03Outdoor: 1,600 meters - 4:43.03... 3,200 meters - 9:33.51High School: Named all-conference four times in cross country and track and field...received the Coaches Award in cross country his senior year...named Most Improved his senior year for outdoor track and field...finished seventh inthe 3,200m at the 4A North Carolina Indoor State Meet, posting a 9:47.93...father, Peter Vandenberg and aunt, Whitney Ball both ran at App State and have been inducted into the Hall of Fame

2012 Mountaineers

Appalachian State UniversityNestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Appalachian boasts an enrollment of 17,344 students. Located

in the town of Boone, ASU is in the midst of one of the finest resort areas in the United States. Mountain foliage, skiing, the Blue Ridge Parkway (America’s most visited national park) and cool summer evenings help make the Boone area so popular.

Academically, Appalachian is a comprehensive university that offers more than 130 majors. The institution stresses teaching. Classes are kept small and almost all classes are taught by full professors. The student to faculty ratio is 15-to-1. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked Appalachian among the Top 10 Regional Universities. All this at a reasonable cost.

Appalachian fields 20 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level, including cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. In the past 31 years, the men and women have combined to win 63 Southern Conference championships in track and cross country. The men’s program has produced 43 NCAA qualifiers and seven All-Americans, while the women have 50 NCAA qualifers, 10 gaining All-America honors, a two-time NCAA National Champion, and a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. The women’s cross country team has won nine conference titles, while the men’s team has captured 14, with 1994 as a banner year as the mens team qualified for the NCAA Championships and finished the season ranked 20th in the nation.

Running FacilitiesAppalachian and the surrounding areas offer some of the best and widest variety of training sites on the East Coast.

Moses Cone Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway offer over 50 miles of groomed trails. The on-campus cross country course with more than four miles of trails sitting along the New River. The course was named after ASU standout Don Kennedy. The 8,325- seat Holmes Convocation Center and its 300-meter indoor track opened in 2000. The state-of-the-art Appala-chian Athletics Center opened in 2009 at Kidd Brewer Stadium and serves as the home for App State football and outdoor track and field.

Quick FactsLocation..............................................................................Boone, N.C.Founded...........................................................................................1899Enrollment...................................................................................17,344Conference.............................................................................SouthernNickname......................................................................MountaineersColors............................................................................Black and GoldChancellor...................................................Dr. Kenneth E. PeacockFaculty Representative..........................................Dr. Alan HauserDirector of Athletics....................................................Charlie CobbSenior Associate Athletic Director/SWA..Debbie RichardsonDirector of Track and Cross Country......................John WeaverHead Cross Country Coach.........................................Mike CurcioXC/Track Phone...........................................................828-262-3080XC/Track Fax.................................................................828-262-4056University Web Address.................................www.appstate.eduAthletics Web Address.......................................www.GoASU.com

Documents

2012 Men's Cross Country Media Guide