MORGANTOWN – West Virginia cross-country redshirt senior Ceili McCabe has become one of the top-ranked runners in the country in recent years.
McCabe captured her third individual Big 12 championship in 2024 after winning in 2021 and 2022. She also took home her third regional title of her career.
After consecutive appearances in the national meet in ‘21 and ‘22, the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada native decided to redshirt in 2023. That time off allowed her to train for the Paris Olympics this past summer while preserving her talent for the Mountaineers roster this season.
“We made the decision mutually, and it allowed Ceili to train hard, and she performed very well in Paris,” Cleary said. “I think the stepping stones for our program were placed last season, as that team ran very well, and Ceili would’ve certainly helped us then. But thank goodness we decided because this season, we’ve been able to reach a whole new level.”
McCabe won’t need to search hard for the necessary motivation to compete for a national championship. She finished third overall in 2021 with a time of 19:29.5 before returning in 2022 and finishing 24th in 20:03.2.
After missing out in 2023, she says her goals are clear this season.
“This year, the goal is to compete with that group of women you hope to be in during the race,” she said. “Winning a national championship certainly takes a ton of ability but also a little bit of luck, especially in cross country. So, competing and giving myself a chance is what I most want to make sure I do on Saturday. One of the fun parts about running cross country is that the unexpected can always happen.”
Saturday’s race will be held on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Verona, Wisconsin. The women’s Division I race will begin at 10:20 a.m.
McCabe says she is familiar with the course and that it certainly has its challenges. The colder weather may cause unexpected issues if runners aren’t adequately prepared.
“It’s sort of the traditional cross-country courses, but one of the nicer ones you’ll find around the country,” she said. “It isn’t too flat to where it becomes easy, but there isn’t a dramatic elevation change, so it’s a fair course. The finish can also be exciting, with a bit of a climb and wide lanes. The field will be challenging. There are some incredible teams and runners all around the country, but I wouldn’t ask for anything other than the opportunity to run with some of the best.”
