Oct. 17, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Commodores return to the cross country courses in their toughest race of the season to date on Saturday at the Pre-Nationals meets in Terre Haute, Ind. The women’s team will compete in the 6k White Race at 11:35 a.m. and the 1:30 p.m. Open Race. The men will participate in the 8k Open Race at 2:05 p.m.
The VU runners will try to invoke lessons learned after a somewhat disappointing, but respectable finish in the Greater Louisville Classic 8k (men) and 5k (women) meets on Oct. 4. The women’s team finished fifth in a field of 32 teams with over 260 racers, the men 18th of 33 teams and nearly 300 competitors.
“Louisville was good prep for this meet as we became more aware of what it is to run in large crowds,” Steve Keith, VU head coach, said. “Now the challenge is to maximize that type of effort.”
Keith traveled to Louisville without one of his top runners, Adrienne DiRaddo. During the race, Amanda Scott took a spill, which she couldn’t quite rally to overcome. This weekend, both DiRaddo and Scott are healthy and ready to run.
“Training has gone very well over the last two weeks,” Keith added. “With the addition of Adrienne, we now have our best possible group all running together for the women.
“The men have continued to show a very tight pack in practice which should translate well in the race.”
The women will compete against some of the nations best teams, including 11 top-20 programs in their 42-team meet. Keith’s squad, however, will enter the race at its healthiest and strongest points of the season so far. As the year’s progressed, each of VU’s top five runners has improved her time from race to race.
“Our women have continued to improve upon their fitness the past two weeks, and right now everyone is healthy and ready to work together as a team,” Rhonda Riley, VU assistant coach, commented. “The biggest thing I want to see the women do on Saturday is to compete. If they stick to their own race plan, have patience, and be confident in their training, we should do very well.”
Kristabel Doebel-Hickok, Rita Jorgensen and Kate Southcote-Want, along with freshmen Louise Hannallah and Alexa Rogers will join DiRaddo and Scott in the White Race Saturday. Carolyn Bell, Ellen Black, Melinda Eshelman, Erin McManus and Mindy Skelton will run in the Open Race.
The men will compete in the 8k Open Race. Thomas Davis and freshman Jenner Kizer will lead the team after finishing first and second for VU at the GLC. Senior Rob Whiting and junior James Kasten have produced solid performances in each race this season, and will help pace the team as the runners pack up throughout the race.
“I believe the men are ready to run a very competitive race on Saturday,” stated Riley. “They have been putting in some great training that will prepare them for this race. I want to see the men continue to run as a pack, stay focused and to continue to push themselves physically and mentally.”
Both teams have showed steady progress in their first three races, and really jelled as a team. Saturday’s races will provide a great indicator of how well prepared the men and women are for the upcoming conference meets.
“Expectations are difficult for a meet of this size and quality, with 28 of the top 38 teams in the country, so we must primarily focus on our own races – both individual and team efforts,” said Keith. “This is another great opportunity to test ourselves, to put it on the line and compete as best we can.
“Channeling our excitement the right way might surprise a few teams.”
The Wabash Valley Family Sports Center Pre-National will host the Pre-National meets at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. For more information on the races, click here.
