Although the weather in Eugene, Ore., may not show it, the cross country season is heating up.
The UCLA men’s cross country team will send a group of 10 runners to the Bill Dellinger Invitational at the Springfield Country Club. The venue will give the squad a preview of things to come, because the Pac-10 Championships will be held at the same site.
“It’s a real competitive meet,” coach Eric Peterson said. “It brings a nice mixture of national-caliber teams from the Western region and across the nation. It gives our team a good opportunity to run against some strong teams.”
Several top teams will look to make their presence felt this weekend. Defending national champion No. 1 Oregon is hosting the meet in hopes of continuing their dominance in distance running. No. 5 Alabama, No. 7 Portland, No. 17 Texas-El Paso and No. 23 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo will all look to steal the Ducks’ spotlight.
Peterson knows the field will be strong, but that is not bothering him.
“I’m less concerned with who we’re running against but interested in the notion of working to be the best team we can possibly be,” Peterson said.
UCLA is receiving votes in the polls, and this event can catapult them into the ranks. Senior Laef Barnes and redshirt seniors Mike Haddan and Drew Shackleton will lead the Bruins. Joining them will be three juniors, three sophomores and freshman David McDonald.
“David has been a real pleasant surprise,” Peterson said. “He has worked hard every day. He has been able to challenge some of the older guys on the team, and he has earned his spot.”
Last weekend the men sent a group of young athletes to the Stanford Invitational in the season’s first scored meet. The scored meets are tracked throughout the year and help determine at-large bids for the NCAA Championships.
The Bruin men have two team titles under their belt for the 2008 season ““ the UC Irvine Invitational and the Big Wave Classic ““ and aspire to improve upon their fifth-place finish in the Dellinger Invitational last year.
One element that might level the playing field will be the weather. Forecasts predict rain and wind with temperatures in the 50s. Although conditions will not be the same as Los Angeles, Peterson does not think his runners will be phased.
“It’s really more of a mental preparation,” Peterson said. “They have all run in inclement weather before. There’s nothing we can really do other than make sure from a mental standpoint they are ready. My guys are tough and competitive and will be ready for anything we face.”
Peterson said he is glad to get away from the heat and sunshine and prepare his team for the bigger meets later in the season.
“I actually kind of welcome it because when we get into our major national level competition in Pre-National and Nationals, the weather will be poor there,” Peterson said. “The more chances we get to run in (that weather) the better.”
However, the Bruins are careful to not look too far ahead.
“This is an opportunity for us as a team to pursue the goals we set for ourselves,” Peterson said. “We want to be an elite team. It starts this weekend.”