Freshman Taylor Manett (Rockford) of the University of Michigan women’s cross country team was selected to represent Team USA at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country Challenge in Edinburgh, Scotland’s Holyrood Park Saturday, Jan. 5. She will be one of six members of Team USA competing in the Junior Women’s 4K race.
Manett was selected by the USA Track & Field Cross country council based on her performances throughout her freshman season at Michigan. To be considered for nomination to the junior squad, athletes must be between the ages of 16-20 and must be a USA Track & Field member in good standing.
“It’s a great opportunity for Taylor to represent the U.S. in international competition,” said head coach Mike McGuire. “USA Track & Field selected her off of her body of work she did representing the University of Michigan in cross country in the fall. It’s a just reward for the outstanding season she had as a Wolverine.”
Manett was a consistent member of the Wolverines’ travel squad, competing for the Maize and Blue in all three championship races. In her career debut at the Big Ten Championships, Manett was Michigan’s fifth scorer, finishing 18th overall to help the Wolverines capture the Big Ten title. She was also a member of U-M’s second straight Great Lakes Region championship team and helped the Maize and Blue place fifth at the NCAA Championships.
The Bupa Great Edinburgh Challenge is an international team challenge that includes senior and junior teams from Great Britain & N. Ireland, the USA and Europe competing in four separate races with the aim of taking the overall team challenge title. The winning team is determined by the best aggregate finishing positions over the four races.
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