This Saturday the defending ACC-champion Virginia cross country team will host the Lou Onesty Invitational at Panorama Farms, an early-season event in which the Cavaliers traditionally compete against in-state rivals such as William & Mary and VCU.
Virginia will look to open the season with a strong performance by both the men and women at the event, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
“This will be the first opportunity for our cross country team to compete,” Virginia coach Jason Vigilante said. “What we hope to do for this competition is to remain healthy while we gather some experience for races that come later in the season.”
This weekend will also be the first meet for Vigilante as Virginia’s coach. Jason Dunn, the previous head coach, resigned July 30 to take the head coaching position at Stanford. Just one week later, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage named Vigilante the new head coach.
“It was a pretty big shock, and we were pretty worried about where the program was going to be headed.” sophomore Emil Heineking said. “However, the girls and guys are really excited about coach Vigilante to be here. We know we are in good hands and expect the program to be better and better every year.”
Vigilante comes to Virginia from the Big 12, where he was the associate head men’s track and field and head men’s cross country coach at the University of Texas. Even though he came into the program so close to the beginning of the season, he said he still has a positive outlook that enables him to help Virginia runners reach their full potential.
“I think I need to have the sharpest eye for detail so I can make sure that I look at both sides of what we’re doing in order to get the best results,” Vigilante said.
His time at Texas allowed him to develop valuable techniques and strategies to bring to the Virginia cross country program.
“Having teams that competed at the national championships seven of the last eight years will help quite a bit,” Vigilante said.
His impressive record with Texas does not stop there, as he also worked with Leonel Manzano, who ran in the 1500 meters for the United States in the 2008 Olympics.
Vigilante is also excited to be returning to the ACC. He ran cross country for N.C. State, lettering three times and earning All-ACC cross country honors for his notable senior season. His stellar record and previous experience competing in the ACC give him an advantage and a familiarity he can use this season to enhance Virginia’s hopes of competing in the national championships this year.
Both the men’s and women’s teams are also not shy of experience this year, and each will rely on upperclassmen to carry the team through the first meet of the season.
The men look to Heineking, who won honors as ACC Freshman of the Year and All-American. He also had the privilege of competing in the World Cross Country Championships in March, where he was the second American to cross the finish line, placing 26th overall.
“Competing in Scotland was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Heineking said. “The race motivated me to reach my potential and carry what I learned back here to U.Va.”
Last year seems to be just a preview of what Heineking is capable of for his next three years at Virginia.
“I’m excited about where he is as his training is well ahead of where he was a year ago, and he has a lot more savvy to him now,” Vigilante said. “He went on to become one of the very few freshmen in the country to win All-American honors and he is already doing great this season.”
The men also have quality runners in senior Andy Biladeau, winner of last year’s Lou Onesty Invitational, as well as senior Ryan Foster.
Seniors Lauretta Dezubay and Katherine Read step in as the leaders this year for the women, replacing standout runner Emily Harrison, who graduated last year.
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