With Brighthouse Football Stadium standing sentinel like a giant, gleaming, concrete and steel metaphor for the paradox that is the Golden Knights cross country program, the five mens and six womens teams that accepted UCFs invitation to run its Black and Gold Meet toured the undeveloped back lots of the campus.
In reality, however, it would seem there were but two schools in the chase. While the Miami Hurricane men blew through the back woods, swirled over swales, and raced around retention ponds to succeed in winning their race, the UCF women proved to be hurricane proof.
Miami coach Damon Griffiths explained his strategy in the first (mens) race, which started at a (dead) battery-delayed 9:10 AM. "Our plan was to go sub-five for one, and then maintain our positioning and go through three under control. We're keying in on the UF ( Mountain Dew) Meet in Gainesville, next week."
Ryan Woodlee, a senior business management and organization major from Silver Springs, Maryland, took the lead at about 800 meters, and led a swarm of Miami team mates to that sub-five with a 4:54 first mile. He never looked back.
"I was focusing on my own race, and getting ready for the rest of the season," he explained after winning. "This meet was to get my bearings, to see where I'm at. Next week were going to Gainesville. That will be the real test."
"Right now our team is really young. Were trying to get them used to the difference from high school (5K). We were working on going out as a team, on parts of our race. We wanted to go out fast for the first mile, and then just try to hold on and keep our pace."
Although Woodlee was unchallenged for the lead--his finish time was 27:22.71--behind the Episcopal High School graduate a mixed bag of runners diluted, but did not diminish the effects of Miami finishers in 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th place. Their 25 points was 38 less than second place Warner Southern (63). Next was Flagler College, led by Ryan McManus (28:08.24), and Rollins College, led by Jesse Hugo (28:29.64), each tied with 74. Third place, however, was decided by Flaglers sixth runner, Steve Theberg (27th in 35:09.71), one place ahead of Rollins, in 28th, giving Flagler the upper hand.
McManus, a senior psychology major, looked both strong, and determined in finishing second overall. At the mile it looked like Miami was in firm control of four of the first seven places, but Flaglers top runner would not be denied his second (overall) place.
"I passed them back in the woodspassed them all, one by one. I was told to watch them, see what they had. Then either stick with them, or try to pass them. The first lap, coming around the lake, I was second and just held it from there."
Asked if he knew he would finish so close to the front, he responded "I didn't really expect it. I hadn't seen these teams in a while. I saw some of the runners at the University of Tampa meet last week, but the others not since last year. This is the first time I've run here. It's a good course, definitely a cross country course. It has a lot of different surfaces; gravel, hard packed dirt and grass, water and mud. It's definitely the kind of course that will test the ability of all kinds of runners."
By the time the womens' race kicked off at a little past 10:00 AM, rising temperatures and high humidity added to the runners' woes. Although it was evident by the ever-slackening pace each time the gals passed--and a competitor or two who didnt make it all the way--that there was a fair amount of fatigue setting in, it affected place far less than pace for UCF and Miami.
According to the official results, Allison Palmer (19:31.92) led a trio of UCF runners to the first three finish places. Next came two Miami harriers. Then three from UCF. Two more from Miami. Central Florida. Two Miami. Central Florida. Miami. A Webber runner (really). Miami. Warner Southern. Then even more Miami runners, but by this time the B team took over from the depleted A team. The point is that the first 15 finishers, and 18 of the first 20, were either from UCF (who won with 19 points), or Miami (40).
Palmer, a fifth year senior majoring in secondary math education, took a slim lead into the final stretch, and with it carried teammates Erica Weitz (19:34.72) and freshman Katrina Skinner (19:35.74). Skinner's twin sister, Kathia (20:02.11) led the second pack of UCF runners; Shannon Kelly (20:04.65) and Ocean Cohen (20:18.54) were right on her heels. For Palmer, who has run 18:18 on the track and 19:18 in cross country, it was her first overall victory.
"My original game plan was to stay with the pack through the first mile (which she ran in 5:43). But I had a good prep, a good warm up, and a good mental state. That (the latter) counts for a lot," she explained after the race.
"Before each meet, we say a team prayer and we get a different team member to say it. That eases everyones tensions." Apparently, more so for some than others. "That was the first meet that I won. It was pretty exciting. It was fun."
Footnotes: Conspicuous in their absence was the UCF Mens Cross Country team. Last fall, amidst all the excitement surrounding the opening of their brand spanking new football stadium (and misplacing its water fountains), it was announced that UCF was jettisoning their Mens' Cross Country team. While I don't wish to lessen the accomplishments of UCF's fabulous coaching staff and their talented and dedicated lady harriers, I can't help but ask: "What were they thinking?" Many thanks to UCFs Andrew Gavin and Half Mile Timing for making my life just a little easier by being so helpful.