It’s now or never.
On October 24th, the Mavericks cross country team will take to the course at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) for their last race of the season with the men’s team racing at 9:30 am and the women’s team at 10:15 am.
“RMAC is the toughest conference in America when it comes to distance,” Colorado Mesa University Cross Country Head Coach, Tim Reetz, said.
Despite the challenge, the men’s team is shooting to qualify for nationals which require placing in the top six as a team at this weekend’s RMAC Championship race.
“We have to beat UCCS and CCU right now to get that because we’re assuming that Adams, Mines, and Western are going to show up again and get one through three,” said junior Mark Testa who is majoring in outdoor recreation.
A possible challenge for this weekend is the difference of elevation with Colorado Springs being approximately 1,500 feet higher than Grand Junction.
According to junior Tony Torres the cross country team hasn’t specifically been training for the difference in elevation, but about every other weekend, the team would go up to Glade Park for their long runs which has an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet.
“I think our team is ready, usually the past couple of years we’ve always had the mentality of oh we’re just going to race, but I think now our team knows that we can do well and I think we’re all ready and we’re excited,” senior Jerod Kuhn said.
The women’s team on the other hand is ultimately focused on effort and being better than last year. Although the dream scenario is they pull out a nice finish and be in the top for nationals according to Coach Reetz.
“The number one way to wreck a race is letting your head get through before your body does,” said freshman Kira McGill.
McGill’s plans to keep a clear head and not put any expectations on herself, which she finds herself doing from time to time. McGill has nationals in the back of her head but it’s not her main focus, instead, McGill’s goal is to run her race and have fun in the last race of her first year.
Senior Lindsay Parsons would like to get all-conference which requires placing in the top twenty and if that’s not possible, Parsons would just like to improve. Parsons is trying to not let these expectations get in her and trust in the training, the process, and her coaches instead.
“I’m excited, I think we’ve all worked really hard and we all had great workouts on Tuesday, every single person on the team did, so I think we’re all peaking at the right time,” said Parsons.
The Maverick’s next race will be the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 25, starting at 9:30 with the men’s team.
