Alabama Men's Cross Country Begin Practice
8/25/2008 12:00:00 AM
Aug. 25, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama men's cross country team began practice last week. The squad is training four times a week in the mornings and two times a week in the afternoon. Practice is being held at multiple venues including Talladega National Forest, Sokol Park, and the old Harry Pritchett Golf Course.
"We're really excited to get the group in and get started this year," coach Joe Walker said. "I've been looking forward to everybody reporting healthy and we've had a few of the usual setbacks with IT band and knee problems but overall everybody is real excited to get started."
Practice officially started last Tuesday after the team finished with compliance meetings. The team met at Coach Walker's house to have dinner and watch the Olympics. "It was fun for everybody to meet and get to hang out," Walker said. "We also had a meeting about team goals of what we want to achieve this year."
The squad is concentrating mainly on aerobic training right now. The student-athletes have had two long runs with some of the guys going up to 16 ½ miles. The Crimson Tide has not done anything fast yet and is still a week or two away from doing any repeats.
"We feel like we have four or five guys we could look at as a leader for the team as each guy has a different style or approach," Walker said. "We will probably look to Augustus Maiyo who is a senior and coming off an All-American season last fall, but we do have some vocal guys that can step into that role."
Weather permitting, the squad will continue training in the morning with a 6:30 AM practice time scheduled on Tuesday at the forest followed by a session in the afternoon. The Crimson Tide will begin competing on Friday, Sept. 5 at the UTC Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
