Spring Break
Cross country running up rankings
RedHawks look to continue hot streak Saturday at George Mason Invitational
Erika Hadley
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports
"A lot of times, the freshmen come in and struggle because they've never run in as competitive of an environment as this," Sovacool said. "But this year we have at least three or four guys who it seems are going to be solid contributors, so it's nice."
Mandrell echoed Sovacool, saying that the young team is hardly running like a bunch of freshmen.
"We've had a pretty good mix this year," Mandrell said. "We've had scorers across the spectrum. We are very young eligibility-wise, but still a pretty darn good team."
Indeed, the team's collective talent was showcased in the Great American Legends Race against Purdue Sept. 7. The RedHawks swept the top nine places, including Sovacool's second consecutive first place finish, including second and third place finishes by Kevin Silver and Brad Untrauer.
Sovacool, whose first win of the season came when he placed first in the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge, has been in a comfortable groove so far this season and is taking each race one at a time.
"You just take it mile by mile when you're racing," he said. "Start at a comfortable pace and see how you're feeling a little farther in."
Breaking the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge was an unplanned accomplishment for Sovacool.
"I remember looking at the time and thinking it would be cool to break a
record, but I never went out with the specific intention of doing that," Sovacool said. "There's a kid from Dayton who I wanted to beat, and a mile and a half in I was feeling good so I tried to drop it and wound up winning it pretty easily, I guess. Breaking the record just happened."
All in all, things seem to be going in the 'Hawks' favor this season, and they don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
"We're kind of a dark horse this year and we want to work hard and keep ramping it up," Sovacool said.
Also, the teams' true potential may still have yet to be shown.
"We've gone to some meets that don't necessarily have the top competition," Sovacool said. "So we've done really well but I don't think we've been tested very much. But we're pleased with what we've got going. All in all, I think we have a pretty legitimate shot at doing some pretty cool stuff."
Mandrell echoed Sovacool, saying that the young team is hardly running like a bunch of freshmen.
"We've had a pretty good mix this year," Mandrell said. "We've had scorers across the spectrum. We are very young eligibility-wise, but still a pretty darn good team."
Indeed, the team's collective talent was showcased in the Great American Legends Race against Purdue Sept. 7. The RedHawks swept the top nine places, including Sovacool's second consecutive first place finish, including second and third place finishes by Kevin Silver and Brad Untrauer.
Sovacool, whose first win of the season came when he placed first in the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge, has been in a comfortable groove so far this season and is taking each race one at a time.
"You just take it mile by mile when you're racing," he said. "Start at a comfortable pace and see how you're feeling a little farther in."
Breaking the Dayton Flyer 5K Challenge was an unplanned accomplishment for Sovacool.
"I remember looking at the time and thinking it would be cool to break a
record, but I never went out with the specific intention of doing that," Sovacool said. "There's a kid from Dayton who I wanted to beat, and a mile and a half in I was feeling good so I tried to drop it and wound up winning it pretty easily, I guess. Breaking the record just happened."
All in all, things seem to be going in the 'Hawks' favor this season, and they don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
"We're kind of a dark horse this year and we want to work hard and keep ramping it up," Sovacool said.
Also, the teams' true potential may still have yet to be shown.
"We've gone to some meets that don't necessarily have the top competition," Sovacool said. "So we've done really well but I don't think we've been tested very much. But we're pleased with what we've got going. All in all, I think we have a pretty legitimate shot at doing some pretty cool stuff."
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