ELON, N.C. – Elon University head cross country and assistant track and field coach Kevin Jermyn announced that Maria Ahm, Melissa Anastasakis, Bridget Kanaley and Andrew Miller will serve as captains for the 2020-21 academic year.
 
"Our team will require strong leadership to successfully navigate through the challenges of the upcoming year," said Jermyn. "I am thrilled to have Andrew, Melissa, Bridget and Maria leading our cross country teams this academic year. These captains bring tremendous passion, experience and ownership to our team."
 
Anastasakis will serve as a team captain for the third straight year. One of the most decorated distance runners in school history, Anastasakis concluded her cross country career last fall as a four-time All-CAA performer while helping the Phoenix capture its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title. The Hillsdale, Ontario, native later became the first Phoenix athlete to earn a Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) indoor championship with her win in the one-mile run. She returns to serve her final season of eligibility during the 2021 outdoor track and field season.
 
Ahm returns as the top returner for the women's cross country team as a sophomore. The 2019 CAA Rookie of the Year finished fifth overall at the CAA Championships and also posted the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 6K at 21:02.29. During the indoor season, she finished second overall at the ECAC Indoor Championships in the 5,000-meters and posted the third-fastest time in program history in the 5,000-meters with a time of 16:47.44 at the David Hemery Valentine Invite.
 
Kanaley will serve as a second-year captain for cross country after sharing those responsibilities with Anastasakis last season. The Brightwaters, N.Y., native competed in four meets during the cross country campaign last fall concluding with a personal-best time of in the 6K 21:50.1 at the CAA Championships.
 
Miller will serve as the lone captain on the men's cross country team. The Fleming Island, Fla., native was an All-CAA runner for the second straight year during his sophomore campaign after pacing the Phoenix male harriers at the CAA Championships and finishing seventh overall. He clocked a personal-best time of 24:41.8 in the 8K at the league meet and concluded his season with a personal-best time of 31:58.5 in the 10K at the NCAA Southeast Regionals – fifth-best performance in school history.