UCA’s cross-country teams powered through the heat to bring home two top-10 finishes at Fayetteville’s Chile Pepper Festival on Sept. 29.
Coach Josey Weaver said, “I felt that our men and women performed at a very high level around some great competition. We showed up as a team and battled the hot conditions extremely well.”
The women’s team placed sixth out of 36 schools, and the men’s team placed 10th out of 30.
“This should stack up well for us down the road,” Weaver said.
At the 8K, junior Jack Dingman broke 25 minutes for the first time in his career, along with running No. 1 overall on the team.
Dingman said, “Achieving a personal milestone of breaking the 25-minute mark excited me. Equally exciting is the knowledge that many of my teammates are on track to surpass the same milestone. Our training intensity and increase in pace have taken a significant leap compared to years past.”
He said the team prepared for the heat in practices.
“Hydration and nutrition were essential, and we adjusted our training schedule to include afternoon sessions, a change from our usual morning routine, to adapt to the warmer temperatures,” he said.
Freshman Kayleigh Wagnon also improved her record by nearly a minute, bringing in her 5K time from 19 minutes at a Sept. 16 invitational all the way to 18:08 this time at Chile Pepper.
Wagnon said, “Getting to the finish line was a blur, so I had no idea I had set a PR until after the race, but it was a huge confidence booster to hear the results from coach Weaver after everyone had finished.
“My teammates and I knew this race would be a challenging one in its own way, considering how many teams were there competing and the hot temperature. Walking up to the start line just knowing the work we have put in so far, getting out hard and staying mentally engaged during the race was key,” she said.
Weaver said he’s looking forward to seeing the teams develop more through the season.
“I learned that our team is very resilient. They had to battle the heat and some outstanding competition. It was exciting watching them stay composed and execute their race plan. Big things are ahead for both of these teams in the near and distant future,” he said.
Weaver said he noticed his teams stick together as a unit.
“They truly seem to care about one another and it is showing on the cross-country course,” he said.
Wagnon said, “Having such a strong group of training partners has really helped me get through tough practices and races. Hanging onto each other and bouncing off of each other’s energy is one of the best parts of being on this team.”
Dingman said the team worked together to make sure everyone performed at their best.
“During the weekend, much of the team grappled with the common cold. What truly impressed me was the spirit and camaraderie that the team displayed through sharing resources like cold medicine, Breathe Right strips, Biofreeze and sports drinks to ensure everyone was in optimal condition,” he said.
While Weaver celebrates the teams’ successes, he also is looking ahead to major competitions coming up, like the ASUN Conference Championships on Oct. 28.
“We will increase the intensity and speeds that we’re running in practice. Consistency over time always leads to outstanding performances,” he said.
Wagnon said, “Right now, just continuing to be consistent in practices and walking away learning something from a race is really important. Progression and PRs will naturally follow that by the end of our season for our most competitive races.”
Dingman said, “I have high hopes that we can compete for a top-three spot in the conference. Given our team’s strong motivation and overall fitness, I believe this goal is well within our reach.”
The cross-country team will be back on the trails Friday 13th, at the Crimson Classic at the University of Alabama.