The men are running for victory this season for Seton Hill University’s (SHU) cross-country team. Strategies for the team are being conducted to increase times both for the group as a whole and individually.
By Megan Seigh
Sports Editor
The men are running for victory this season for Seton Hill University’s (SHU) cross-country team. Strategies for the team are being conducted to increase times both for the group as a whole and individually.
“We have a different mentality; A winning one. We run 15 miles every day. This includes morning runs and afternoon runs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we usually have workouts that tune our bodies to race,” said junior Michael Ortiz.
“We are just trying to improve with every run, workout, and race. We are just trying to stay healthy throughout the season and perform at our highest level when conferences come around at the end of October,” said junior Ben Rogers.
Rogers continued, “My expectations are to win. We want to win a WVIAC Cross Country title.”
“We really aren’t doing anything different this year. I think the upperclassmen are just stronger, more focused and more confident in the workout routine we have each week. It also helps that we have a very strong freshman class of men and women to fill in some of the pieces we were missing in years past,” said Coach Tim Creamer.
The team is thriving with some new outstanding freshmen: Jonathan Bogert, Dom Comasso, and Justin Weaver combined with the upperclassmen; Mike Ortiz, Jess Bradly, Josh Wilks, and Ben Rogers.
“Mike Ortiz has continued his strong cross country career and Ben Rogers and jess Bradley too will be in the hunt for all conference awards at the end of the year. But the biggest difference this year is how strong and determined this year’s freshman class is. Jon Bogert, Dom Camasso and Justin Weaver have stepped in almost as upperclassmen to help lead our team to two invitational championships,” said Creamer.
Individual effort is an important aspect of cross-country but the team agrees that teamwork is still vital.
“It brings together speed and experience that gives us a great shot at winning our first WVIAC title,” said Rogers.
“Both teams are off to a great start, probably the best start in my eight seasons as coach here at SHU. We really try to have the team push and race each other and run together as a pack. The closer the top five runners are the better chance we have to finish in the top spots at a regular season invitational,” said Creamer.
SHU recently fitted a race-worthy track to host cross-country meets right on campus.
“I expected to hate it, and after running our meet, that’s exactly what happened. People are free to jog the course and give me their personal opinion on it,” Said Ortiz.
“The new cross country course on campus is probably one of the toughest in our conference, training on this course will get our men and women ready for the WVIAC Championships and NCAA Regional Championships, if we can run fast here on the hill we can run fast anywhere,” said Creamer.
“The course is very tough and it will no doubt help the team,” said Rogers.
The men strive to help each other get better, stay healthy, and work hard.
“Everyone makes a difference in their own way. No man on the team is better than the next man,” said Ortiz.
“Our team goal is the same each year, to win the WVIAC Team Championship and to receive as many individual honors as possible. This has been a fun and exciting first month of the season, I can’t wait to see how they continue to develop over the next month as they go towards their team and individual goals,” said Creamer.