New runners give cross country team added depth
A handful of new runners on this year’s cross country team give Utah State University the depth it needs to out do last year’s team and make it to nationals.
On the men’s side the Aggies only lost one of the top five runners from last season, but replaced him with four runners just as good, if not better, said head coach Gregg Gensel.
With the new additions, USU has eight or nine runners just as good as last year’s top five runners, he said.
This season the women also received new harriers, including two transfers from BYU, Idaho – Lida Clapier and Audrey Golightly.
Gensel said the women’s team last season did not have depth, making it difficult when someone was injured or sick.
“Just watching practice I can see that we’re probably going to do some really good things,” Gensel said.
Not only do the Aggies have new recruits to help their team, but they are also better prepared, he said.
In the past, USU has scheduled its meets back to back, often wearing out the team early on in the
season.
As was the case last season.
After being ranked as high as 18th in the nation, the Aggies didn’t make the cut for nationals.
“This year we have a meet, then three weeks off, then a meet every other weekend for the rest of the season, giving them more rest,” Gensel said. “We’ll be able to prepare them more like true cross country runners.”
Clapier said having more depth doesn’t necessarily stop the women’s team from being nervous about starting the season.
Until recently, practices for the Aggies have been focused mostly on mileage and running trails and hills around the campus. Because they haven’t been working on their speed as much, Clapier said she feels like the team might be a little behind.
Despite the feeling about the beginning of the season, Clapier said she thinks the women’s team will be good.
“I think we have a lot of talent and potential to make it to nationals,” she said. “I think if we work hard and get our top seven all close together we have a chance.”
The men’s team is also excited about the season and team captain Mike Nielson said it is planing on making it to nationals.
With the results from last season lingering in the back of their minds, he said the Aggies are more motivated than ever to make it to
nationals.
“We’re just excited to get there [nationals] and make some noise,” he said. “You can’t help but smile at the possibilities.”
– csmo@cc.usu.edu