Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cross Country Teams To Hold Time Trial This Saturday
08/27/2003 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Aug. 27, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - There's always a point at the beginning of any athletic season when a coach must test the true abilities of his athletes. On Saturday, that test comes for the Southern Illinois University men's and women's cross country teams as they hold their first timed event of the season, an intrasquad meet.
"This is their first real test of the year," said women's head coach Matt Sparks. "We really haven't had a practice that we've gone all out just to see where everybody is, so this will be the first indicator of everyone's true fitness and to see where they are for the upcoming season."
Freshman Sarah Rinker sees the time trial as an opportunity to prepare for the real thing.
"Your going to take this more seriously than practice, your going to view it like a race," says Rinker. "I'm still going to run just as hard as I do in practice, but I'll prepare more mentally for this event. I'll probably see the course in my mind more."
For the men's team, this time trial holds future importance and places pressure on the runners to do their best.
"I've already told them the top seven guys will be going to Peoria (to compete against Bradley)," said men's head coach Matt McClelland. "So there is a little bit of pressure, but I don't think so much that they are going to fold under it. It's like a hyped up practice, really."
Irish newcomer Diarmuid Grant (freshman) welcomes the opportunity to get competitive, but says the heat could become a factor.
"It's going to be more competitive (than practice)," declares Grant. "You got eight guys just running as fast as we can to see where we are. It's not too serious, but it's serious enough. I've just gotten over here (to the U.S.); I'm not used to the heat, so we'll see how I do the first couple months."
The time trial will begin at 9:00 a.m. and is open to the public. The women's team will split into seperate teams and race in a 4K run first, followed by the men, tackling a 6K run, at 9:30 a.m. The time trial will begin in the open area directly behind the center field fence of Abe Martin Field and end near the restrooms of the Saluki baseball complex.
