Mavericks Gear Up For Start of Season
8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Aug. 24, 2010
Arlington, Texas - The start of a new year means that plenty of fall sports will begin preparing for their upcoming season. As for the UT Arlington men's and women's cross country teams they have been training all summer for their opening meet at the Midwestern State Invitational Sept. 2.
The Mavericks have been training hard this summer despite the hot weather conditions. The women's team has been climbing to 50 miles a week while the men have been hitting 80. UTA kicked off the new season with a team meeting and an 8 p.m. run at Maverick Stadium.
"We just reported back last night and they've all been doing there summer mileage build up and that really won't change much now that we started for the next 10 days," said head coach John Sauerhage. "It's great to have everyone back so we can get some cohesiveness, team unity going and get everyone thinking like a team."
The men return 14 and welcome six new faces to the squad. Junior Zack Zura and sophomore Eric Montou return as two of UTA's top distance runners. Zura led the Mavs with a 30th place finish at the SLC Meet while Montou finished not far behind in 34th place.
As for the newcomers, Sauerhage loaded his squad with plenty of talented runners. David Rayo (Dallas Skyline HS), Aaron Purser (Plano East HS), Anthony Hillman (Saginaw HS), and Johnny Camacho (Brackenridge HS) are four of six newcomers that look to help the team contend for a conference championship.
"All four are all really talented and have all put in summer training. We are hoping that they will develop into great athletes and will mesh well with our upperclassmen," said Sauerhage.
On the women's side, UT Arlington returns eight from the previous season and adds two new recruits. Abilene Christian junior transfer Lindsey Putman and Emily Koening will give an added boast to a women's team that finished third at the conference meet last season.
"We have the entire women's cross country team back. I think we have a really good chance to improve and contend for the runner-up trophy or the SLC title," Sauerhage said.
The Mavericks open their season in Wichita Falls, Texas at the Midwestern State Invitational Sept. 2.
