University of Richmond Athletics
Spider XC Squads Conclude Preseason Camp
08/22/2011 | Cross Country
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - The University of Richmond men's and women's cross country teams commenced their bid for a second-consecutive Atlantic 10 title sweep last week with a weeklong preseason camp that included practices, educational seminars and meetings with athletics administrators and medical staff.
The highlight of the programs' preseason camp was a three-day trip to Lexington, Va., to train on the trails of the George Washington National Forest. The on- and off-campus training served as the Spiders' first opportunity to gather as a team and begin training for the upcoming 2011 season. In addition to the actual physical training involved in the camp, the returning student-athletes were able to welcome the incoming freshmen to campus and begin creating the team bond that has come to define the programs.
"It was a wonderful week of camp," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "We have a great group of freshmen, and this was our first chance to interact with them outside of recruiting. Recruiting visits are so short that we don't have a chance to get to know them on a more personal level, so this was an opportunity for us all to come together and begin forging team unity. While we have a talented group, we know the upperclassmen and freshmen alike have work to do. We're pleased so far with the effort and progress in preseason though and look forward to the fall and defending our titles at the A-10 Championships."
Both Spider squads begin their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 3 when they host the Spider Alumni Open. The race is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. at nearby St. Catherine's School.
For an in-depth look at the Spiders' preseason training, visit Coach Taylor's daily blog posts at the links below. For all the latest on Spider cross country, stay tuned to RichmondSpiders.com and follow Coach Taylor on Twitter @SteveTaylor7.
Coach Taylor's Preseason Training Blog Posts:
