CARY, N.C. -- Talk about a runner's high.
The Virginia men's cross country team was running their cool down jog at the Great American Cross Country Festival Friday when the meet results were announced over the loudspeaker.
"Finishing fifth, with 146 points, Virginia," the announcer said.
A yell from the pack of seven runners burst out. There were high fives, chest bumps and fist pumps abound as the team jogged on, completing what was the most satisfying cool down for Virginia men's cross country team in years. When they returned to the team tent 30 minutes later, they were still buzzing.
With their fifth place finish, the harriers outran three conference opponents and five ranked opponents, including No. 10 Villanova and No. 14 North Carolina State. Junior Will Christian and senior Walt Kingsbery led the men, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
"I think [the team has arrived]," coach Jason Dunn said. "I really do. I think there are a lot of people who've taken notice of our men's performance today. But we have a long way to go -- we're a lot better than we showed today."
The women's team, however, struggled, placing seventh overall and 132 points behind meet champion NC State. By comparison, the men finished only 32 points behind winner Northern Arizona.
The women returned only two runners, seniors Jane Maxwell and Meg McGarvey, from a team that finished 20th at nationals last season. It was one of the team's new runners, freshman Angie Saterfield, who led the way for the women, finishing 23rd overall, one spot ahead of Maxwell.
"We don't have a lot of experience," Dunn said. "To be honest, it's a bit of a rough year for us, but I still believe our women can be really good. We've got capable people, and by the end of the season, I think we can be back where we can get to nationals."
The women sorely missed sophomore Kara Scanlin, who currently is injured. Scanlin, an All-American in high school, was consistently the team's top runner last season as a freshman. She is what Dunn calls a front runner.
"It definitely helps to have a front runner," he said. "It takes the pressure off of everyone else because they know that there's someone up there pulling them along. They just fill their role."
The men's team certainly has found a front-runner. Actually, they've found two in Christian and Kingsbery.
Since qualifying for cross country nationals as a sophomore, Kingsbery has been one of the top runners in the conference, both in track and in cross country. His only misstep came last season, when he was hampered by injuries. With his seventh place finish at GAXC, Kingsbery appears to have returned to top form.
If Kingsbery has returned, then Christian is just arriving. Blessed with a body suited for long-distance running, Christian took his time working to the front of the pack. By his estimation, he was about 40th at the 1.5-mile mark, but within the next mile, he had moved into the top 10.
"That's my style of running," Christian said. "I like to go out relaxed."
Kingsbery noted that Christian's style is not something many runners can replicate.
"I like to be in front for as long as I can," he said. "Some people aren't good enough to put in that mid-race surge, but I got to watch him last week at [the Lou Onesty Invitational] blow away the field from three miles on. There are not many people that can run like that."
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