Eagles Prepared for ODAC Cross Country Championship Meet
SALEM, Va. - The Bridgewater College cross country teams will be running at the ODAC Championship Meet on Saturday in Salem. The meet, hosted by Roanoke College, is slated for a 10:30 a.m. start.
Both BC teams have performed weill during the regular season despite less than ideal running conditions.
"Both teams have been running very," Bridgewater College head coach Lori Schrock said. "Our times don't reflect how well we have been running because we haven't had anything close to ideal conditions this entire fall."
The men's team has been ranked in the South/Southeast Region Top 10 for most of the season, but three other ODAC teams have been ranked ahead of the Eagles.
"It's a tough conference," Schrock said. "Lynchburg is the favorite but W&L is going to be strong as they have a very tight pack of runners."
As for the Eagles, they have run well this fall despite the loss of their top two runners of a year ago - Nathan Rittenhouse and Brandon Spalding - to graduation.
Senior Jake Griffin and sophomore Jordan White have formed a solid 1-2 punch to lead the BC pack. White placed first in four meets this fall and was named the ODAC Runner of the Week four times.
"We lost two very good runners, but I knew this group had talent," Schrock said. "I have been please with the way they have been running."
The Bridgewater College women's team is one of the youngest in the conference with four freshmen routinely running in the top four for the Eagles.
"The women's team is so young, but there is some talent there," Schrock said. "This is one of our most talented women's teams in a long time."
First-year runner Molly Smith has been at the front of the BC pack for most of the fall. Smith picked up an individual title when she placed first at the Guilford Cross Country Carnival.
After placing fifth a year, Schrock would like to see her team take another step up the ODAC ladder. "The women may not finish better than last year, but I know they will run better. If we could come away with a top four finish, that would be great."
According to the BC coach, Saturday's championship meet will be run on a tough layout.
"Our runners, some of them love the course and some hate it. Personally, I like the course," said Schrock. "It's very challenging. There are several surface changes and there are some good flat areas to go along with some killer hills. It offers a good test."