This weekend, the men's and women's cross country teams will participate in the George Mason Invitational, which will serve as an early season tune-up for the No. 14 men's team and the No. 18 women's team. Both squads won their respective titles at the season-opening Lou Onesty Invitational two weeks ago.
One of the teams' primary concerns at this point in the season is the team's overall health, especially with the number of flu cases at the University.
"Most importantly what we can do now, to enhance our chances of doing well, is to stay healthy," coach Jason Vigilante said. "With all the bugs going around it's important to wash our hands continually, going to sleep early, make sure that we are taking in enough liquids. We have to remember the basics, as those can be the easiest to forget."
The teams' training is based on gradual buildup and improvement throughout the season with the goal of peaking and running the fastest races toward the end of the season, as championship meets approach. The early races act as barometers of fitness, as opposed to serious competition.
"We really work on slowly building into our training, so we just recently began hard training," sophomore Laurel MacMillan. "I think our team is focusing on building into our intensity, and not throwing it together all at once."
The strategy should help set the Cavaliers up for a stronger second half of the season and stronger performances in the ACC and NCAA championship meets. Though they'll be seeking to maintain a gradual fitness intensity, expect both teams to do well this weekend, as the men's and women's teams won their respective titles at the George Mason Invitational last year.
"We have to make sure our eyes are focused on November, when the real work comes," senior Trey Miller said. "There will be some good teams there this weekend, but right now we just have to be patient and work hard"
Read More
No. 4 Virginia softball knocked out of ACC Tournament by No. 5 Clemson
By Eleanor Lynch | 10 hours agoThe Cavaliers could not get things going on either side of the ball in their loss to the Tigers.
No. 5 seed women’s lacrosse wins big against LIU to open NCAA Tournament
By Peter Kratz | 19 hours agoThe Cavaliers outscored the Sharks 10-1 in the second quarter on their way to a crucial win.
How Morgan Schwab has helped continue the prestige of Virginia women’s lacrosse
By Peter Kratz | 2 days agoAs the Cavaliers approach the NCAA enactment , they will be relying on Schwab to make a run at a national title.
