'Cats Look to Make Big Strides in 2014
9/3/2014 9:34:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The men's cross country team will look to improve upon last year's successes with hopes of making an impact in their first season in the Atlantic 10. The Wildcats will use the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., on Friday as the starting block to set the tone for the rest of the season.
"I'm really excited about the upcoming season," said associate head coach Renny Waldron, who joined the Davidson staff in June 2014. "We have a great combination of veteran leadership and enthusiastic underclassmen looking to make an impact. It should be a fun year."
Davidson, which officially joined the Atlantic 10 in July, was picked eighth by the league's coaches in the preseason poll.
"Since it's our first year, we don't really know where we stand in the conference," said Waldron. "The guys are in shape. I think we match up well. It's going to be a good move for us, and we hope to be competitive right off the bat."
With 12 members of the 2013 squad returning, the Wildcats look to use experience to guide them through the season.
"We're led by captains Sal Del Guidice and Whitner Chase, so we have very strong veteran leadership there," said Waldron. "Whitner struggled a little bit with some injuries this summer that he has had to work through and overcome. He won't run until our second race of the season. Daniel Samet and Walker Mogen look good and I think they will make a serious impact this season. Samet is looking fantastic. He's in tremendous shape and ready to start competing."
There are two newcomers, Ramsay Ritchie and Ian Robertson, who hope to make an immediate impact on the team.
"On the freshman side of things, Ramsay and Ian look great. We're excited to see how they will adjust to their first season here," said Waldron.
Davidson looks to use its first season in the A-10 as an opportunity to raise its intensity and keep improving from season to season. The Wildcats have set up a strong schedule to help prepare them for the 2014 Atlantic 10 Championship at Duquesne.
"We have some good meets lined up throughout the season that should really challenge us and prepare us for the trip to Pittsburgh in November" said Waldron.
Davidson opens the season Sept. 5 with its first meet of the season at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., before heading to Vanderbilt, Tenn., for the Commodore Classic Sept 12.
"This weekend's race, we're not going to race everyone. It's an opener; we really just want to see where we are" said Waldron. It's a low-pressure race. No team is going to be 100 percent ready for their first meet in September. It should be a fun meet and we get to see where the chips lie. The meet down at Vanderbilt will be a more competitive environment with some strong competition for our guys."
After a two-week hiatus, Davidson will compete at the Paul Short Invitational, which will feature top runners from schools across the country.
"The Paul Short Invitational in Lehigh Pa., is always a great meet that is very competitive and brings in kids from all over the nation," said Waldron. "It should really give us a glimpse of some of the top competition in the country before we head to the A-10 championships."
The Wildcats will return home for the Royals Cross Country Championship in Charlotte, Oct. 11, the squad's last race before the Atlantic 10 Championships at Duquesne Nov. 1-2. The season wraps up on Nov. 14 with the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Louisville, Ky.
"I'm really excited about the upcoming season," said associate head coach Renny Waldron, who joined the Davidson staff in June 2014. "We have a great combination of veteran leadership and enthusiastic underclassmen looking to make an impact. It should be a fun year."
Davidson, which officially joined the Atlantic 10 in July, was picked eighth by the league's coaches in the preseason poll.
"Since it's our first year, we don't really know where we stand in the conference," said Waldron. "The guys are in shape. I think we match up well. It's going to be a good move for us, and we hope to be competitive right off the bat."
With 12 members of the 2013 squad returning, the Wildcats look to use experience to guide them through the season.
"We're led by captains Sal Del Guidice and Whitner Chase, so we have very strong veteran leadership there," said Waldron. "Whitner struggled a little bit with some injuries this summer that he has had to work through and overcome. He won't run until our second race of the season. Daniel Samet and Walker Mogen look good and I think they will make a serious impact this season. Samet is looking fantastic. He's in tremendous shape and ready to start competing."
There are two newcomers, Ramsay Ritchie and Ian Robertson, who hope to make an immediate impact on the team.
"On the freshman side of things, Ramsay and Ian look great. We're excited to see how they will adjust to their first season here," said Waldron.
Davidson looks to use its first season in the A-10 as an opportunity to raise its intensity and keep improving from season to season. The Wildcats have set up a strong schedule to help prepare them for the 2014 Atlantic 10 Championship at Duquesne.
"We have some good meets lined up throughout the season that should really challenge us and prepare us for the trip to Pittsburgh in November" said Waldron.
Davidson opens the season Sept. 5 with its first meet of the season at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., before heading to Vanderbilt, Tenn., for the Commodore Classic Sept 12.
"This weekend's race, we're not going to race everyone. It's an opener; we really just want to see where we are" said Waldron. It's a low-pressure race. No team is going to be 100 percent ready for their first meet in September. It should be a fun meet and we get to see where the chips lie. The meet down at Vanderbilt will be a more competitive environment with some strong competition for our guys."
After a two-week hiatus, Davidson will compete at the Paul Short Invitational, which will feature top runners from schools across the country.
"The Paul Short Invitational in Lehigh Pa., is always a great meet that is very competitive and brings in kids from all over the nation," said Waldron. "It should really give us a glimpse of some of the top competition in the country before we head to the A-10 championships."
The Wildcats will return home for the Royals Cross Country Championship in Charlotte, Oct. 11, the squad's last race before the Atlantic 10 Championships at Duquesne Nov. 1-2. The season wraps up on Nov. 14 with the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Louisville, Ky.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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