As the season winds down, the women's cross-country team is filled with confidence for their tripto Milwaukee, Wisc. this weekend.
The Huskies have set high expectations for themselves as they look forward to the 6k race hosted by Marquette University at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross-Country Course.
"From here on out it is all about getting sharp, mentally and physically," said second-year distance coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "The team just looked the best it has all season in workouts last week, and all of the women are starting to run their best right when we need them to."
While many UConn teams are usually labeled a bust if they don't place in at least the top three for the Big East, accomplishing a top-10 finish would be an incredible feat for this bright young squad considering the top six teams in the Big East are nationally ranked. Cross-country powerhouses Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence and Notre Dame are Nos. 2, 4, 9, 10, 24, and 30, respectively, in the top 30 poll as of Oct. 27.
There are more than 350 division one women's cross-country teams in the country. The Big East has six of their 16 teams ranked in the top 10 percent of the country, making a top-10 finish for UConn that much more impressive for the young squad.
With their No. 1 runner sidelined for what looks to be the rest of the season, Grove-McDonough is looking for the Huskies to maintain their team-first approach.
"They really are a team, in the true sense of the word," Grove-McDonough said. "I've told them in the results you won't see any individual name next to our place, it will simply say University of Connecticut. If we continue to focus on team success over individual glory then we will be fine."
Their teamwork was on display at Penn. State National, as UConn finished ninth out of 18 teams. This was a marked improvement from last year when they finished 18th out of the twenty-two teams racing. The meet also brought upon new leadership, as sophomore Christine Vogel stepped up to finish first for the Huskies, setting a personal best along the way.
Breaking into the top 10 in the Big East would be a significant step in the right direction for the Huskies from a personal standpoint as well, as they placed 12th last season in the conference that Grove-McDonough feels is the "toughest in the country." While moving from 12th place to 9th place might not seem like a huge leap, it is a difference of well over 100 points, which is no easy task according to Grove-McDonough.
"That would be a huge accomplishment for this team and a signal to recruits and each other that the UConn women's cross country team is going to be knocking on the door of the top six in this conference by the time this freshman class are seniors and looking for a ticket to the NCAA Championship," Grove-McDonough said. "That's our ultimate goal."
The Big East championship kicks off at 12:50 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday afternoon.
Be the first to comment on this article!