August 12, 2009

Winston-Salem, NC-Cross Country at Salem hopes to build on their past two years of success with a lot of returning talent and a large incoming class. The team will be headed by first year coach, Shawn Marek, who has seven returning runners and eight new runners to work with.

Marek said “We have a strong group of upperclassmen returning and, with the new first-year additions, we should have a very successful year.”  Marek comes to Salem after having a successful running career at Saint Bonaventure, and coaching stints at two high schools in New York (Cheektowaga Central and Manchester-Shortsville).

The Spirits will be counting on the strength of two of their top runners from the past two years. Lauren Meek, a senior from Draper, VA, has been the number two runner for Salem since her first-year. The team will also count heavily on Julie Piernikowski, a junior from Potomac, VA. Meek and Piernikowski both received All-Association of Division III Independents Honorable Mention honors in both 2007 and 2008.

Salem will begin their season at the USC Upstate Eye Opener Meet on September 5^th at 8:00. The team will also host the 2009 Salem College Invitational the following Saturday. “We are looking forward to a great season,” says Marek.