Cross country returns to nationals

Last year Drew Shackleton ran in the NCAA Cross Country Championships, but something did not feel right.

He was running for UCLA ““ but not running with UCLA, as the team missed out on qualifying by one point. Shackleton, twin brother Kyle and alumnus Austin Ramos were the three Bruins who ran as individuals in 2007.

Ramos finished 32nd with Kyle Shackleton placing 96th and Drew Shackleton 104th.

“I was a little bit bitter about not making it as a team,” Drew Shackleton said. “It put a bad taste in our mouth. This year, going as a team, it will be a lot more fun. I’ll have a lot more to run for.”

This season is a different story with a lot to prove.

After a sixth-place finish at the Western Regional Championships a little more than a week ago, the No. 27 men’s cross country team earned an at-large bid to nationals, its second trip in the past three seasons. In 2006, the team qualified for the first time since 1985.

The 10-kilometer race will be held in Terre Haute, Ind., this morning with the gun going off at approximately 9:48 a.m.

No. 1 Oregon will look to repeat as national champion, but will be pushed by No. 2 Oklahoma State and No. 3 Stanford. Individually, Oregon’s Galen Rupp is projected to go head-to-head with Sam Chelanga from Liberty for the top spot on the podium.

As for the Bruins, they are looking to improve on recent performances and put up a good showing for the program while in the national spotlight.

“I think we had some problems a few weeks back at the Pac-10 Championships,” coach Eric Peterson said. “I am impressed the ways guys bounced back.”

Senior Laef Barnes and sophomore Kent Morikawa suffered injuries at the Pac-10s but were able to turn in strong performances at regionals, with Barnes being the top runner for UCLA, to put the squad back in the national meet.

Coming into the season, the goal was to make it to the NCAA Championships and bring some recognition to UCLA cross country.

The Bruins reached their highest ranking of the year at No. 13 earlier in the season after the pre-national meet held at the same course in Terre Haute.

“We kind of lost a little momentum in the last two meets,” Drew Shackleton said. “Coming off pre-nationals we were ranked as high as we were in years. We didn’t run out of our minds, but top to bottom everyone ran solid. Going into this race we want to get back the momentum.”

The team is led by a trio of seniors who plan to make their last race their best on the biggest stage of the season. Drew Shackleton, Barnes and Mike Haddan want to leave the program in the hands of upcoming stars Morikawa and juniors Marco Anzures and Marlon Patterson.

“I’m particularly proud of those (seniors),” Peterson said. “It’s great to have three seniors on the team. They are hardworking and have competitive fire. They know what it’s like to run in this race. They will leave nothing in the tank and leave it all on the course.”

A top-10 finish would be ideal, and for the runners who have been a part of the program for multiple years, that would make a statement to the rest of the nation.

“What excites me the most when I came here ““ one of my main goals ““ was to turn the distance program around,” Drew Shackleton said. “There’s no better sign that you’ve turned the corner and reached an elite level than the national championships. I think we have the opportunity to run with, and beat, the elite teams in the biggest race of the year.”

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