Saturday, October 10, 2009

Mergaert Leads Utes at Nevada


On an ideal morning to race our team competed against Sacramento State and Nevada-Reno in Reno on a windy course full of rolling hills. Times were very slow due to the tight turns and four trips up the 600 meter hill on this loop style course. I thought we did a much better job of being patient early in the race. However, we failed to respond to some moves mid race and it really cost us in the team race. I was very please with freshman Amanda Mergaert who finished third overall and only 12 seconds behind the winner who was a Regional qualifier in the steeplechase and 5K during the outdoor track season. Jenny McCune was aggressive early in the race and was able to hang on for a top ten finish. Our 3-7 group had a good spread, but they have to get closer to our front two if we hope to meet our team goals in the coming weeks. Like everyone else we have some illness and injuries to overcome and I think we can. Ultimately, we have to run with more confidence and respond to any and all moves that the competition makes in the middle of the race.

Picture: Megan Combe and Amanda Mergaert stretch during their warmup for this mornings 5K race.

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