The Bruins cross-country teams are heading into a crucial month for their success.
Head coach Landon Bright said the cross-country teams need October to be a quality month of training and performance.
The team has done really well so far, Bright said.
“The men’s team will look strong by the end of the season.”
The women’s cross-country team has suffered a few injuries early in the season. Bright said one of their goals is to “fight off the injury bug” and stay healthy.
Sarah Sheridan, who races on the Lady Bruins cross-country team, said they are working very hard, especially with the injuries the women’s team has.
“The guys are doing well. They are very strong,” Sheridan said.
Coach Bright said the biggest race of the season so far has been the meet at Columbia International University, where the men’s team finished in first place.
“It showed what we [could] do,” Bright said. “It showed our potential. We have a lot of success when our top five are on the same page.”
The recent race at Southern Wesleyan University was also a big race because the men’s team ran well, placing second out of five teams.
The cross-country teams’ next meet will be at Queens University in Charlotte.
Coach Bright said he will use that meet as a fitness gauge and to have the runners focus on achieving their fastest times.
Both teams have qualified for the NCCAA Division II Regional Championship and the Lady Bruins’ team is looking to repeat as regional champions.
The regional championship will be held on Oct. 22 at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort in Bluffton.
In addition, both the men’s and women’s cross-country teams have already qualified to be in the NCCAA national championship meet at the end of the season.
At least one of the teams has qualified for the national championship meet every year since cross country was added to the Bruins’ intercollegiate program in 2013.
This season’s national championship meet will be held on Nov. 12 at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi.
“We are in a good position to race well in November,” Bright said. “We need to have a motivated season.”
Overall, Coach Bright praised the teams for their positive outlook and attitude and said the best part about the season so far has been seeing both teams strive to improve and enjoy representing the University through running.
