Preview: Men's Cross Country UD Invitational on October 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics (Official)
Instagram: udallasathletics
Twitter: UDallasSports
UDXC Twitter: @UDallasCCTF
Instagram: udallascctf
STARTING LINE
The University of Dallas cross country team hosts its annual invitational this Saturday, October 14th. The women's race begins at 9 a.m. and the men's race will start shortly after at 9:45. Both distances are a 5k.
There will be nine programs running on Saturday morning. Besides Dallas, the other squads include: Austin College, Sul Ross State University, Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, Wiley College, Paul Quinn College, Texas College, and St. Edwards University. Austin College is the only other Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) team, while five teams altogether are affiliated with NCAA Division III.
The Crusaders competed last Saturday in the University of the Ozarks Invitational. The previous two races for UD have been 8ks on the men's side. The lone 5k race for the guys was September 8th at the Hardin-Simmons University Invitational. The women's team also competed at that meet, and had a 5k at last Saturday's race where UD claimed 3rd overall.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Video of the Course:
BEEN HERE BEFORE
Each of the cross country teams feature majority of first-time runners in college this fall. However, on the men's team, there are a trio of runners that raced on UD's campus last season. Peter deTar (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) is the lone senior and did have the best returning time from the men's team with an 18:58.6. Andrew Maal (Pueblo, Colo.), ran a 19:14 in his first season. Maximilian Wilson (Houston, Texas) is the other returner and finished with a 20:36.5 mark.
SEASON TIMES
WORTH NOTING
- Joseph Kilmer (Rockville, Md.) has led the Crusaders with top times in all four races in his rookie season. He earned 10th in his 5k at Hardin-Simmons with a 16:39 time.
- Elijah Depew (Grove City, Pa.) and Joseph Boyle (St. Paul, Minn.) are two other freshmen that have leaped into strong seasons thus far with second and third best UD times, respectively. Depew's 5k was 17:33 and Boyle ran 11 seconds behind.
- Maal shattered a personal record (PR) in the earlier race last month with a 17:58. The sophomore has been PR'd in his last three competitions.
- At the Ozarks, seven different Crusaders ran a PR. Kilmer, Depew, Boyle, Maal, Maximilian Wilson (Houston, Texas), Gabe Vazquez (Clive, Iowa), and Peter Hedlesky (Florissant, Mo.) formed the group.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas will finish the season with the men's team running a pair of 8ks and women's team running a pair of 6ks. On October 28th, the Crusaders race in the SCAC Championship hosted by Texas Lutheran University. On November 10th, the team will run in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) for the third consecutive year.