By: Allison Hernandez, Staff Writer
Newman University's cross-country teams are preparing for postseason competition as a season that saw personal records, strong individual performances and improved team chemistry draws to a close, said coach Amber McVicar.
Graduate student Katie Hughes has been one of the team's top performers this season, McVicar said. Hughes, who came to Newman from the United Kingdom, has won all but two of the races she has competed in. She is completing a master's degree in business while using her remaining year of NCAA eligibility.
At the Augustana University meet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in September, nearly every Newman runner recorded a personal record. McVicar said the performances reflected the work athletes put in over the summer and throughout the beginning of the season.
"I think that really is probably the highlight of our season,” she said.
After graduating many athletes last year, Newman welcomed several newcomers to the program. McVicar said the team has adjusted to the roster changes while developing a stronger connection among its runners.
"We've done a very good job of coming together as a squad, especially embracing all of our newcomers," McVicar said, adding that the team's progress has also been reflected in how the athletes supported one another. She described the previous season as difficult and said the change in team atmosphere has been a significant part of this year's development.
"Seeing them all come together this year, and be so supportive of one another, and cheer each other on has been the biggest win for me as a coach, and seeing them grow and become a mini family away from home, so to speak," McVicar said.
The men's runners have dealt with injuries, illnesses and other medical issues throughout the season. The setbacks have affected the team's ability to consistently get five scoring runners across the finish line.
McVicar said the returning athletes have continued to attend practices and push one another despite the challenges.
"We kind of just took it one day at a time, but they never stopped showing up," McVicar said.
With the regular season nearing its end, Newman is preparing for the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships on Nov. 21 at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls. The regional meet will be followed by the NCAA Division II National Championships on Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence. At regionals, Hughes will be trying to earn a spot at nationals.
As the postseason approaches, McVicar said the team's priority is recovery rather than adding more training. The focus is on managing soreness, staying healthy and preparing for the remaining competitions.
"At this point in the season, nothing we do right now is going to help. Well, it can help, but it's not going to be the end all be all," McVicar said. "So it's more about making sure that everyone's resting, recovering, fueling correctly and everything like that."
McVicar also said she is looking forward to returning to the Augustana course to see how the runners perform later in the season compared with their earlier races.
Beyond the cross-country season, Newman has added a new indoor and outdoor track and field team. The programs will give distance runners the opportunity to train and compete throughout the year instead of backing off during the spring.
McVicar said she is looking forward to seeing how year-round training affects the runners during the upcoming track seasons and how it carries over into next year's cross-country season.
