2021 Delaware Cross Country Year-In-Review

Photo by: Mark Campbell

12/10/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware cross country team closed out the 2021 season on Nov. 12 at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals.

WELCOME NEWBIES
Head coach Ryan Waite welcomed a four-member freshman class consisting of Marissa Dailey, Danielle Eshelman, Jordan Ormsby, Hannah Smalley. Dailey, Eshelman and Smalley each made their collegiate debut at the Towson Invitational (Sept. 4), helping the team earn a second place finish at the season opener. Dailey closed out her rookie season competing in three meets, including setting a personal-best 6K time of 23:25.5 at the 47th Annual Paul Short Run (Oct. 1). Eshelman also competed in three events for the Blue Hens. Ormsby will look to make her first-ever appearance to blaze the trails next season.

ON THE TRAILS
Delaware competed in eight races this season, including placing in the top five in six meets along with capturing two team victories in the First State. Junior Katie Hally headlined the Blue Hens at the Goldey-Beacom Fall Classic (Sept. 17), where she finished the 5K-course in a personal-best time of 19:54.6 to earn her first-ever individual title.

Making her season debut in such a dominant fashion was graduate student Susanna Weir, where she led the way for the Blue Hens at the Delaware Invitational (Oct. 9) to claim the individual title with a time of 23:15.8. With 1/10th of second behind Weir was Capparell, who followed in second place at a time of 23:15.9.

Running side-by-side were @Susannaweir7 and @tina_capparell - Here are their thoughts on today's race #WeLoveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/6nOz1ZHgf5
— Delaware Track & Field/Cross Country (@DelawareTFXC) October 9, 2021

POSTSEASON MAGIC
Delaware entered the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships (Oct. 30) with one goal in mind and that was to improve from the abbreviated spring 2021 campaign fifth-place finish. The team did just that as they were able to place third out of nine teams guided by a stellar performance by senior Tina Capparell. Capparell led the Blue Hens by crossing the 6K finish line in a time of 21:49.50 for fifth place. Weir was right behind Capparell in sixth place posting a time of 21:53.80 while sophomore Hannah Lindgren was the next Blue Hen to finish the race in 22:32.30, good enough for 13th place. After finishing in the top 14 at the CAA Championships, Capperall, Weir and Lindgren all earned All-CAA Team Honors.

The Blue Hens looked to use that momentum from the conference championship heading into the final race of the year, NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals (Nov. 12). The squad set a goal of finishing in the top nine as a unit and they were able to accomplish that earning their second-best finish at this event behind another impressive performance by Capparell. Capparell guided the Blue Hens in three-straight meets crossing the finish line in a personal-best time of 21:13.6 for 24th place, good enough for her to earn All-Region accolades.

THANK YOU SENIORS
The Blue Hens would like to thank their senior class for everything they have given to the program. Tina Capparell, Jessica Harding, Devon Hoernlein, Samantha Side, Julien Webster and Susanna Weir – thank you for giving our University so many outstanding memories!

BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the University of Delaware Cross Country/Track and Field, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens