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SAINTS CROSS COUNTRY: North Georgia approaches mid-point of season
By Stephen Fairbanks
The men's and women's cross country teams from North Georgia College & State University have been working very hard for the past month.
How hard?
Well, since they began practice in mid-August, they have not had a single day off.
That's right: the Saints and Lady Saints have run or worked out for 30 days straight.
This past weekend, during a Saturday morning meet at the Georgia State Invitational, they began to see that all that work is beginning to bear fruit.
Running on a muddy course on an even muggier morning, the Saints and Lady Saints lowered their running times, almost across the board.
In a field with some of the top NCAA Division I and II programs in the region, the teams ran to strong finishes among the non-division I programs, led along the way by top women's finisher Emmy Lawalin and men's finisher Alan Schmitz.
Though their performances were similar in strength, Lawalin and Schmitz disagreed in their assessments of the course.
Schmitz, who ran at 9 a.m. on a very slick, dewey, and muddy course, said he “couldn't get a groove.”
Several of the men's runners could be seen struggling with their footing during the eight kilometer course on the grounds of Georgia Regional Hospital in Panthersville.
Lawalin, on the other hand, praised not the condition of the course but the topography, with a couple of challenging hills over three kilometers.
“This is my favorite course so far,” said Lawalin. “I love the rolling down hills.”
Though running up those hills makes for suffering out on the course, they also provide ideal places to pass other runners.
Lawalin perhaps said it best when she observed, “Flat sections are boring.”
Head coach Amanda Harris thought that “this course is tougher than the one in Huntsville,” where the teams competed last weekend and where they hope to run the region meet in early November.
Harris explained, “The hills are a little bit more challenging.” She emphasized as well that the men ran two laps, which meant twice up the slick inclines.
However, coach and runners agreed that the teams have made good progress since the opening of the season.
Said Lawalin, “We're having a lot of fun. We get along real well. We want to make it to region. I set a really high standard for myself.”
She noted that she ran her fastest time ever at last year's conference meet, so she hopes to keep improving as this fall progresses.
The final remark an optimistic and hungry Lawalin had, when asked whether she was satisfied with the season yet, was, “Talk to me after conference.”
Schmitz also praised the work of the team so far this year. Like Lawalin, he ran last season as the top runner for North Georgia.
Individually, Schmitz also is continuing to improve.
“I'm feeling pretty good, running on par with last season,” when he made the all Peachbelt team. “I'm trying to get to nationals.”
Coach Harris talked about how hard the teams have worked over the past month, and was happy that her runners “ran faster times compared to last week.”
Her Lady Saints earned particular praise, as she applauded how they “worked very well together as a team.”
As for the team as a whole, Harris said, “We're making progress. We are trying to focus on pushing each other, working as a team.”
When asked about her goals for performing at the Peach Belt Conference meet in October, she simply said, “We want to place higher than last year.”
North Georgia will head to Augusta this weekend to sample the course they will run on at the aforementioned conference meet.
In a longer format, the women will run a six kilometers, while the men will run ten.
How hard?
Well, since they began practice in mid-August, they have not had a single day off.
That's right: the Saints and Lady Saints have run or worked out for 30 days straight.
This past weekend, during a Saturday morning meet at the Georgia State Invitational, they began to see that all that work is beginning to bear fruit.
Running on a muddy course on an even muggier morning, the Saints and Lady Saints lowered their running times, almost across the board.
In a field with some of the top NCAA Division I and II programs in the region, the teams ran to strong finishes among the non-division I programs, led along the way by top women's finisher Emmy Lawalin and men's finisher Alan Schmitz.
Though their performances were similar in strength, Lawalin and Schmitz disagreed in their assessments of the course.
Schmitz, who ran at 9 a.m. on a very slick, dewey, and muddy course, said he “couldn't get a groove.”
Several of the men's runners could be seen struggling with their footing during the eight kilometer course on the grounds of Georgia Regional Hospital in Panthersville.
Lawalin, on the other hand, praised not the condition of the course but the topography, with a couple of challenging hills over three kilometers.
“This is my favorite course so far,” said Lawalin. “I love the rolling down hills.”
Though running up those hills makes for suffering out on the course, they also provide ideal places to pass other runners.
Lawalin perhaps said it best when she observed, “Flat sections are boring.”
Head coach Amanda Harris thought that “this course is tougher than the one in Huntsville,” where the teams competed last weekend and where they hope to run the region meet in early November.
Harris explained, “The hills are a little bit more challenging.” She emphasized as well that the men ran two laps, which meant twice up the slick inclines.
However, coach and runners agreed that the teams have made good progress since the opening of the season.
Said Lawalin, “We're having a lot of fun. We get along real well. We want to make it to region. I set a really high standard for myself.”
She noted that she ran her fastest time ever at last year's conference meet, so she hopes to keep improving as this fall progresses.
The final remark an optimistic and hungry Lawalin had, when asked whether she was satisfied with the season yet, was, “Talk to me after conference.”
Schmitz also praised the work of the team so far this year. Like Lawalin, he ran last season as the top runner for North Georgia.
Individually, Schmitz also is continuing to improve.
“I'm feeling pretty good, running on par with last season,” when he made the all Peachbelt team. “I'm trying to get to nationals.”
Coach Harris talked about how hard the teams have worked over the past month, and was happy that her runners “ran faster times compared to last week.”
Her Lady Saints earned particular praise, as she applauded how they “worked very well together as a team.”
As for the team as a whole, Harris said, “We're making progress. We are trying to focus on pushing each other, working as a team.”
When asked about her goals for performing at the Peach Belt Conference meet in October, she simply said, “We want to place higher than last year.”
North Georgia will head to Augusta this weekend to sample the course they will run on at the aforementioned conference meet.
In a longer format, the women will run a six kilometers, while the men will run ten.
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| Trainers play a huge role in success of North Georgia athletics |
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For example, if Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank says something you don't agree with, don't tell the world that Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank is a no good dirty scoundrel who cuts off people in traffic and has owed you $20 since 1997. The Nugget asks you to please just stick to the issues at hand. That way we'll keep the debate lively, without getting personal. And remember, above all else, keep it civil and directed at the topic that's being discussed. We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
