Author: Julie Xu
Reigning 2009 Southern CaliforniaIntercollegiate Athletic Conference(SCIAC) champions, theOccidental women’s cross countryteam hopes to reclaim the covetedtitle this season. But they won’t stopthere. The team aspires to push forwardfrom their narrow under qualificationlast year in order to competeagainst some of the country’s bestteams at Nationals.
The team is currently rankedthird in the region and 33rd in thenation by the U.S. Track & Fieldand Cross Country Coaches Association.However, the team is maintaininga level head.”I don’t feel like[the ranking] has put pressure onus,” team captain Anna Dalton (junior)said. “[It has] helped us realizehow much potential we have asa team and will help us set our goalshigh.”
At their first meet of the seasonlast Saturday, the Tigers’ competitiverunning times reflected all thevigorous training that began duringpreseason conditioning. StartingJune 1, the women were askedto run on their own and keep a logof their miles before officially startingpractice at school. Coaches expectedthe women to maintain theircompetitive edge even in the offseason.
Two weeks before the start of thesemester, Resident Education andHousing Service opened residencehalls for the team. When they arrivedon campus they immediatelybegan practicing together. Theyhave not had a break since.”We have practice at 6 a.m. twicea week [where we] do easy recoveryruns, and then different typesof harder workouts on Tuesday andThursday evenings,” Dalton said.”Saturday mornings we either raceor do workouts too.”
The women tough out the rigoroustraining schedule becausethey are committed to surpassinglast year’s successful season. Dailypractice is especially critical thisyear due to the team’s lack of experiencedrunners. With only onesenior running, the team is fairlyyoung.
However, the team’s inexperiencedoesn’t mean that the girls willbe any less competitive. “With thenew leaders and the new talent, thewomen’s cross country team hasthe ability to go far and outperformtheir competition,” Head CoachRobert Bartlett said.
Despite some recognizableweaknesses, Bartlett is optimisticabout how the team will performthis year.
“Our team is currently lackinga front runner, someone who cansweep the competition and place topthree at every meet,” Bartlett said.”Although this is a weakness in ourteam, it opens up opportunities forthe girls to get out and perform attheir best.”
The hard work that the girls putinto the season will be exhibitedOct. 16, the first day of the SCIACChampionships. Come support theteam at La Mirada Park at 8:30a.m. to watch the reigning 2009champions attempt to sweep thecompetition once again.
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