Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFor Fox, team, high rankings not satisfying
By Phillip George
Posted: 10/21/09, 1:33 AM EST Section: Sports
The Syracuse men's cross country squad, led by head coach Chris Fox, has already attained its highest national ranking in program history.
The women's team gave the opposition a preview of what's to come, placing fourth at the Pre-Nationals Invitational Saturday while competing against the top competition in the nation.
But neither Fox, nor the Orange, are fully satisfied.
"It won't be successful unless we go to Nationals and finish in the top 20," Fox said. "That's how we'll define if this is a successful season.
"You can say never. That's never in most of our lifetimes."
Prior to last season, the women's squad had never earned a berth to the national championships in program history. The men's team hasn't competed in the championship race since 1958. But history doesn't distract Fox from his goals for the team.
Both the men's and women's squads are in line for a spot at the national championships Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.
"They fully expect to go," Fox said. "They're not taking it for granted. We still have work to do. They're in a really good place. They have a good shot at going and not just going but going and doing pretty well."
The two squads derive motivation from the pressure to keep getting better. The experience SU has gained this year and in years past fuels the runners to keep striving for more.
"Each race you run, you gain a little experience and you take something from each race," sophomore runner Tito Medrano said. "Our runners are growing up."
Medrano and his teammates hope that experience result in a trophy in November. Fox's team came into the season with a goal and wants to carry it out.
"We don't sit around and have big speeches and talks," Fox said. "We come into the season and everybody knows what we want to do. They're a bunch of motivated individuals. They take care of each other."
The desire to do better alone motivates the Orange to keep competing at its high level as nationals approaches.
"We all work as a team and we're pushing each other to do better each time and make sure we do the best we can," said junior Katie Hursey. "We have a great team that can succeed. We don't know what we can do because we've never been this good before."
pcgeorge@syr.edu
The women's team gave the opposition a preview of what's to come, placing fourth at the Pre-Nationals Invitational Saturday while competing against the top competition in the nation.
But neither Fox, nor the Orange, are fully satisfied.
"It won't be successful unless we go to Nationals and finish in the top 20," Fox said. "That's how we'll define if this is a successful season.
"You can say never. That's never in most of our lifetimes."
Prior to last season, the women's squad had never earned a berth to the national championships in program history. The men's team hasn't competed in the championship race since 1958. But history doesn't distract Fox from his goals for the team.
Both the men's and women's squads are in line for a spot at the national championships Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.
"They fully expect to go," Fox said. "They're not taking it for granted. We still have work to do. They're in a really good place. They have a good shot at going and not just going but going and doing pretty well."
The two squads derive motivation from the pressure to keep getting better. The experience SU has gained this year and in years past fuels the runners to keep striving for more.
"Each race you run, you gain a little experience and you take something from each race," sophomore runner Tito Medrano said. "Our runners are growing up."
Medrano and his teammates hope that experience result in a trophy in November. Fox's team came into the season with a goal and wants to carry it out.
"We don't sit around and have big speeches and talks," Fox said. "We come into the season and everybody knows what we want to do. They're a bunch of motivated individuals. They take care of each other."
The desire to do better alone motivates the Orange to keep competing at its high level as nationals approaches.
"We all work as a team and we're pushing each other to do better each time and make sure we do the best we can," said junior Katie Hursey. "We have a great team that can succeed. We don't know what we can do because we've never been this good before."
pcgeorge@syr.edu
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