The Men and Women of the GMC Cross Country team are now in preparation mode as they look towards the NJCAA Division III National Championship to be held on Saturday, November 12th on the Bruce Bridgman Cross Country Course in Canandaigua, New York.  It has been a record setting year for the program as the Men's Team qualified for the Championship and the Women will have several representatives competing as individuals.  

The teams season started at the UGA Cross Country Invitational in late August with some successful runs and finishes at the GCSU Bobcat Invitational, the Augusta University Invitational and the SCAD-Atlanta Cross Country Invitational.  The hard work and the hundreds of miles run throughout the course of the season has put them in a position to now go and compete against the best in the country on November 12th in New York.  

When asked about some of the factors that has led to their success this season, second year coach Rob Sherwood responded by saying, "The program has benefited from some very good leadership by the runners themselves.  From day one they have worked hard and it has helped to have a nice mix of Freshmen and Sophomores."  Coach Sherwood went on to say that when asked what exemplifies the character of this team, "I love the movie McFarland, USA.  One of my favorite parts in the movie is when McFarland runs at the State Cross Country Championship, their first runner did not worry about his own placing, he turned around and encouraged his teammates on.  This is emblematic of the GMC team.  Those at the front, the moment they finish they are finding their teammates and encouraging them on to finish.  I really feel there is a sense of team for both the men's and women's team."

This is will be the first appearance for the GMC Men's Team at the Cross Country National Championship.  Sophomore brothers, Adam and John Dougherty, have led the men to help reach this stage.  Adam was just named the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Male Athlete of the Week as well as being named to the GCAA All Region XVII team for the 2016 season.   Adam stated, I am happy that I was awarded this honor.  My brother has pushed me through the whole process.  A sibling rivalry is the only one that does no end when you walk off the course.  Nor do the bragging rights." 

"I think realistically that GMC's top 3 runners could place in the top 30.  As a men's team I think that a top 15 showing is possible.  For the women, the runners will come in somewhere between 25^th place and 60^th place.  We have run in some larger meets to try and get them used to lots of runners.  We have run hilly courses to help them get ready for the hills that will be on the course.  The one things that we can not really prepare for is the weather.  If could be a beautiful day in the 50s or very cold and snow.  That is the great unknown.  The great thing about running, all run in the same conditions.  The student-athletes will prepare the best that they can, and then go and represent GMC to the best of their ability," Coach Sherwood stated.  

Over the next couple of weeks the team will be getting in some hill work and logging miles in preparation for the Championship course in Canandaigua, New York.