November 17, 2009

RedStorm XC prepares for nationals

Rio Grande --- The University of RedStorm men's cross country is heading to the NAIA National Championships. Rio will get its chance to challenge the nation's top programs this Saturday in Vancouver, Washington at the 53^rd Annual Men's National Cross Country Championships at the Fort Vancouver Historical Site. 

Rio has had various individual runners compete at the national meet, but it is the first team trip since 1994. Rio finished 10^th that season. "It's been awhile so we're excited and we're going to try to keep everything in perspective and see what we can do," Rio Grande head coach Bob Willey said. "We haven't peaked yet; we're trying to focus on the national championships so hopefully things will work out where we run our best race at nationals."

Rio gets the nod as a result of winning the Mid-South Conference Championship. Willey credits consistency with his team being able to win the conference meet and get the chance to perform on the NAIA's grandest stage. "We've been very consistent all year, both our men and women are running well," he said. "You would like to put it altogether at the conference meet and a couple of ladies really stepped up and the men really ran well."

The RedStorm women just missed going as a team, finishing second at the MSC Meet but senior Stacey Arnett (Laurelville, OH) and sophomore Kayla Renner (Galloway, OH) will represent the women's team at the NAIA National Meet. 

Willey knows it's a long trip, but he is thrilled with the prospect of going. "It's a long trip, we'll try to get used to the jet lag, so to speak, as we get out there," Willey said. "We had a great workout yesterday, people are still hitting on all cylinders and we're excited about that."

"If we can continue to get people healthy and keep people healthy we should be able to run well," Willey added.

The RedStorm received votes all year long for the NAIA Top 25 poll but could never break through. Despite the fact that the RedStorm were left out of the rankings, Willey believes his team can pull a surprise at nationals. "I think we'll be able to surprise some people when we get there and that's our goal," he said. 

Willey commented on what he expects from his runners. "Selfishly, you always want your people to go out and be All-Americans, so, certainly we'd like to bring home several All-Americans," he said. "On the men's side, I would like to see us be in the top 20, we're really going to have to run outstanding to do it, but, that's a goal that I would like us see us achieve."

In order to earn All-American status a runner must finish in the top 30. 

The men's race will cover 8,000-meters and will commence at 10:30 a.m. PST while the women will run 5,000-meters with the race beginning at 11:45 a.m. PST.