Women's Cross Country Team Runs at MSU Invitational Saturday
10/23/2003 12:00:00 AM
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The Alabama women’s cross country squad will finish up the regular season Saturday (Oct. 25) with a trip to the MSU Invitational in Starkville, Miss.
For the Crimson Tide the meet will serve as a tune-up for the Southeastern Conference Championships. The meet is a 3-kilometer meet, a near sprint for the distance set.
“Obviously, this is a last chance tune-up for the SEC meet hence the shorter distance,” coach Steve Keith said. “The 3km, a 10 to 11 minute all-out effort, fits perfectly with our training and preparation for the SEC meet. Sometimes, late in the season, the runners prefer to just race and keep sharp, rather than do another workout.”
Keith said that he chose the MSU meet as much for the distance of the race as the proximity to Tuscaloosa.
“We had a very good hard 5-mile run in the Forest on Tuesday so a shorter, faster than race pace effort on Saturday will work well. I think the women felt like they could have run a little better last weekend so they look forward to going head to head with Miss State and Auburn as we look toward the SEC meet.”
And while the distance is an odd one for collegiate cross country teams, Keith says the advantages are many, including giving the Tide a spark going into the post season.
“This 3km short race gives us a chance to keep that racing rhythm and still not beat up their legs,” Keith said. “It should be a lot of fun as I don’t think any of the women have run such a short cross country race. On the track, yes they have run plenty of 3Ks, but on the grass this will feel like a real sprint.”
