JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman men's and women's cross-country team return to the course they started the fall season at in Newton, North Carolina, for the SAC Championships on Saturday.
In early September, the Eagles' women finished 2nd, and the men took 3rd in the SAC Preview at Southside Park in Newton, North Carolina. The Eagles return to the course over a month later to take on their biggest race of the season.
In her return to the course, junior Imke Van Gog has seen vast improvement from the first race until now.
"We've been working on a lot of mileage," Van Gog said. "Also lifting and getting stronger for all the courses… I really tried to improve in getting stronger."
Despite the individual-based scoring in the sport, Van Gog has seen the team's mentality of running in packs play a big role in the Eagles' success.
"It is something we've been doing really well this year," Van Gog said. "When we see someone on our team, we try and catch them… it is a personal sport, but we try and work together as a team."
In the Royals XC Challenge, the Eagles faced many top-notch teams, and Van Gog believes that prepared the Eagles well for the challenge at the SAC Championships.
"It was a big competition," Van Gog said. "I think we all liked to get used to so many people being around us, so I think it prepared us well because the conference is also a big meet. We're used to being in packs with a lot of people."
On the men's side, after a 3rd place finish at the course at Southside Park to start the season, senior Will Kolb believes the mix of youth and experience has made the Eagles better throughout the season.
"This year has been a really unique one," Kolb said. "We've had the opportunity to have a lot of the young guys step up in place of some of our graduated seniors… We're almost evenly split between freshmen and seniors, so having those guys step up is how we will progress in races and finish higher and higher."
With the Eagles returning to Newton, Kolb has had a chance to reflect on what that first race meant to the team and the growth that has occurred since then.
"The first time we did this, it was more of a rust buster," Kolb said. "We've really improved as a team if you look at our times and our placement compared to our rival schools... We have just improved boundlessly compared to the beginning of the season."
Going into the race, Kolb believes the Eagles are in their best shape of the season, both with their health and bodies.
"Everyone is in good shape, and we're all pretty fit," Kolb said. "That's only going to help us in the future, and we are well-prepared for this meet."
The Eagles will take the course in Newton, North Carolina, for the biggest race of the season in the SAC Championships on Saturday at 9 AM.
