Freshman Cross Country Runners Learn Valuable Lesson

Princess Anne, MD - Sept 24, 2022

 

After posting excellent results in their early competitions of the season, the Cardinal Cross Country team traveled to the Univ of Maryland - Eastern Shore looking to continue their fine running.  Head Coach Mark Pryor was very optimistic and especially chose this meet for its flat course.

 

The training times in practice indicated that the team was ready for the challenge of their first 5-mile (8k) college race. So physically they were ready. Unfortunately, the mental aspect of the new distance posed a tougher challenge. Instead of attacking this race in the same fashion as the previous two races, the athletes ran tentatively and hesitantly.  Their first mile splits were much slower than any of the previous races as everyone started out in the back of the race behind every other team.

 

After starting out so slow, it was difficult to make up the difference in the later stages of the race. For Coach Pryor, it was hard to watch his young team under-preform but encouraged that this race could be used as a well-needed learning tool of how not to run a race.  Each athlete's feedback included their fear of the added race distance and not wanting to finish.  Competing with fear in any athletic competition will never produce the expected results.

 

Freshman Keynaud Randolph once again led the way finishing in 22^nd place. Behind him was Ethan Bush finishing in 30^th place.  Zachary Sanders was the next Cardinal finisher in 35^th place followed by Ryheim Hall who actually was directed in the wrong direction during the race who finished in 41^st place. Joshua Blackston finished in 47th place.

 

Seton Hall won the Men's team competition, followed by Morgan State Univ. and the host UMES Eagles finished 3rd.  Coach Pryor estimates that his team's slow start cost them between 15-20 places. In the team scoring is where it showed the most:

 

TFRRS | TFRRS | College Track & Field Results   (Link to full results)