Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Open Cross Country Practice This Week
August 17, 2015 | Cross Country, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Monday morning, 39 University of Colorado cross country runners officially began their pursuit of a national title.
“Officially,” of course, is a subjective word. The Buffs — the men are two-time defending national champions; the women finished seventh in the NCAA meet a year ago — never really stop training toward their goal. Buff veterans have been working out all summer.
As for the incoming freshmen, “We hope they've been running,” said associate head coach Heather Burroughs. “And they will hope they've been running.”
But Monday was the first day the Buffs could hold an organized workout, and most of the team quickly hit the roads and trails around Boulder.
“The guys went out for a run and some guys did nine (miles) and some did 11,” Burroughs said. “That's a pretty typical easy day.”
Not all incoming freshmen can practice with the team yet, as they must still go through their physicals and some paperwork, details they'll have addressed in the next few days. Meanwhile, head coach Mark Wetmore is in Beijing, where several professional runners he coaches will be competing in the World Championships.
It won't change the routine this week. Buff veterans know what is expected of them. The men will almost certainly be the unanimous No. 1 pick when the first collegiate poll is released in early September; the women will likely be at least in the top 10.
But for now, the Buff coaching staff is making sure they get their freshmen acclimated and ready to roll in a program that has developed a culture of excellence.
“We hope when they get here they aren't surprised at the ethic of the team and the culture,” Burroughs said. “They always arrive a little bit nervous, and that's totally natural. 'Am I going to make it? Am I over my head?'
“Almost all of them were at least the best or most accomplished runner on their team. Many were the best in the state or one of the best in the country. Now they're going into a different world.”
The Buffs open the season Sept. 4 at the Colorado State Invitational. Their first and only home appearance is Oct. 3, when they host the Rocky Mountain Shootout at Buffalo Ranch, CU's South Campus facility.
But the schedule targets are the Oct. 17 Pre-Nationals at Louisville, Ky., the Oct. 31 Pac-12 Championships, the Nov. 13 NCAA Mountain Region Championships and the Nov. 21 NCAA Championships.
“I don't have to give them a speech about taking this seriously or training hard,” Burroughs said. “Most of the time, we have to give them a speech about not trying to impress us. We tell there's no one day that will impress us. We need them to be good, not excellent. It's a process that takes place over months.”
The Buff men have five returning runners who have earned All-America distinction at least once in the last two years: Ammar Moussa, Pierce Murphy, Morgan Pearson, Ben Saarel and Connor Winter.
The women have four runners who scored points in last year's postseason: Erin Clark, Madeline Alm, Kaitlyn Benner and Annie Kelly.
