2008 Woodie Awards
Runners focused on title
Jeff Craig, Sports Writer
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
The Wildcat cross country team has a light schedule the next couple of weeks leading up to the Lone Star Conference Championship on Oct. 25. The break in schedule presents an opportunity to look back and examine the first half of the season.
The fall of 2008 has been a time of change for the cross country team which has seen an influx of young talent, such as freshman Charles White. The Wildcats also added a new head coach in Sam Burroughs. Yet change has not affected the cross country team's tradition of excellence and expectations of success; ACU's new coach said he knows the tradition and expects nothing less.
"All of the letters we send out say 'A Tradition of Excellence' on the top," Burroughs said. "This is a class program nationwide across all three NCAA divisions. There is no program that wins like this one."
With 17 straight Lone Star Conference titles and two straight NCAA Division II National Championships, winning has become the standard for the Wildcats. Already this year the team has finished with a team title at the ACU Classic and showed its national prominence by finishing fourth at a meet featuring some of the NCAA's best Division I teams. While successes such as these may be considered achievements for other programs, Burroughs expects more.
"We as a team need to focus our energies on the national championship on Nov. 22," Burroughs said. "We need to take a step back and look at the entire picture."
The Wildcats begin their push toward another national championship with not only a long-term philosophy in place, but also fully healthy men and women's squads. Burroughs said he feels his men's team is talented and balanced with five All-Americans.
"Overall our five All-Americans are within arm's length of each other," Burroughs said. "Daniel Maina, Amos Sang, Serge Gasore, Julius Nyango and Cleophas Tanui have all overcome minor injuries but are all healthy with no major injuries."
In preparation for the conference race in two weeks, the teams will be focusing on training and conditioning. However, Burroughs plans to send some individuals to meets in San Angelo and at the University of Arkansas. Burroughs said his men's team should have no challengers on the conference level and fully expects an 18th straight conference title from them. However, he said he has his eyes on two programs nationally that could prove a challenge to the team.
"Adams State and Harding University present two challenges; we are feeling the pressure from them," Burroughs said. "We are enjoying the pursuit of our goal. This is really the only expectation I have. We need to enjoy the 364 days leading up to the national championship as well. We have to keep our eyes on the prize for the entire season."
Contact Craig at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
The fall of 2008 has been a time of change for the cross country team which has seen an influx of young talent, such as freshman Charles White. The Wildcats also added a new head coach in Sam Burroughs. Yet change has not affected the cross country team's tradition of excellence and expectations of success; ACU's new coach said he knows the tradition and expects nothing less.
"All of the letters we send out say 'A Tradition of Excellence' on the top," Burroughs said. "This is a class program nationwide across all three NCAA divisions. There is no program that wins like this one."
With 17 straight Lone Star Conference titles and two straight NCAA Division II National Championships, winning has become the standard for the Wildcats. Already this year the team has finished with a team title at the ACU Classic and showed its national prominence by finishing fourth at a meet featuring some of the NCAA's best Division I teams. While successes such as these may be considered achievements for other programs, Burroughs expects more.
"We as a team need to focus our energies on the national championship on Nov. 22," Burroughs said. "We need to take a step back and look at the entire picture."
The Wildcats begin their push toward another national championship with not only a long-term philosophy in place, but also fully healthy men and women's squads. Burroughs said he feels his men's team is talented and balanced with five All-Americans.
"Overall our five All-Americans are within arm's length of each other," Burroughs said. "Daniel Maina, Amos Sang, Serge Gasore, Julius Nyango and Cleophas Tanui have all overcome minor injuries but are all healthy with no major injuries."
In preparation for the conference race in two weeks, the teams will be focusing on training and conditioning. However, Burroughs plans to send some individuals to meets in San Angelo and at the University of Arkansas. Burroughs said his men's team should have no challengers on the conference level and fully expects an 18th straight conference title from them. However, he said he has his eyes on two programs nationally that could prove a challenge to the team.
"Adams State and Harding University present two challenges; we are feeling the pressure from them," Burroughs said. "We are enjoying the pursuit of our goal. This is really the only expectation I have. We need to enjoy the 364 days leading up to the national championship as well. We have to keep our eyes on the prize for the entire season."
Contact Craig at jmcnetwork@acu.edu
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