The Virginia cross country team will start off a new season Saturday in the annual Lou Onesty Invitational at Darden Towne Park. Last year, the men's and women's teams placed first and third in the meet, respectively.
The invitational will give the Cavaliers an opportunity to assess the progress they have made during the summer. Second-year coach Jason Dunn gave each runner a detailed running schedule over the summer and he has already started to see results.
"I have a handful of kids who have gotten better since the spring," Dunn said. "This is probably the strongest combined group that has been here in a while."
"Most of us started off pretty gradually, but most of our team got up to 55 miles a week over the summer," senior runner Sarah Folse said. "It took a while for his training to set in. It's more controlled with Jason. It's a much better method."
The runners' summer improvement has left the Cavaliers with a very deep team. The women's team only lost Dana Coons to graduation, but she will stay with Virginia as an assistant coach. The skill level of the returning runners may prompt Dunn to redshirt some of his freshmen.
"Our women's team is so deep with only one graduating, that it's going to be hard for our freshmen to make an impact," Dunn said.
The women's team also will enjoy the possible return of All-American Jennifer Owens. Owens sat out the 2000 season for academic reasons but is back training with the team.
Owens "by herself makes her team better," Dunn said.
Her teammates are also happy that Owens may be on her way back to competition.
"I don't think there is anyone on the team who isn't excited to have Jen back," Folse said.
Dunn said he believes the women have the talent to qualify for their first NCAA Championship spot since 1994. Last year, Georgia Tech edged them out for the final spot by three points.
On the men's side, Bobby Thiele, Virginia's first cross-country All-American since 1985, graduated, but the Cavaliers remain a strong team. According to Dunn, juniors Justin Wood and Matt Ruhl will be runners to watch, and freshmen William Christian, Maryland's state champion last year, and James Catano are two additions that could enhance an already formidable squad.
Both the men's and women's teams will have to fare well in a very competitive ACC in order to reach their goal of becoming a top 15 team. The North Carolina women are particularly strong and will challenge for the national championship. For the men, N.C. State, which finished with a No. 10 ranking last year, and Wake Forest, which ended last season at No. 18, are the cream of the ACC crop.
"The ACC is a really good conference," Dunn said. "If we can get into a position where we are competitive in the ACC, we should be able to compete nationally."
Dunn said he hopes to turn both teams into a mainstay in the nation's top 10 within the next three to five years.
"Before I came to Virginia, I became convinced that this is a place where we should have great cross country," Dunn said.
Since his arrival, Dunn already has changed the runners' expectations and outlook.
"Since Jason has been our coach, we have the attitude that we can win," Folse said. "I think we're going to have an amazing team"
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