What a difference a year makes.
Last year at this time, the Virginia men's cross country team hadn't been to nationals in 20 years, and the possibility of an invite to the season's championship meet was no more than a dream in the minds of the team's runners.
Virginia was a pretty good team in a pretty good conference, nothing more. This year, things have changed.
"Last year we went in wanting to win ACCs, but I don't think we really believed it," senior Dave Vitto said. "We all thought we were going to be pretty good, but I don't think we believed it as much as we do this year."
What exactly do they believe this year? A conference championship and a top-20 finish at nationals aren't out of the question, according to senior Will Christian, one of the team's three captains along with Vitto and senior James Atchison.
The team has the personnel to go along with its lofty goals. The Cavaliers return six of their top eight runners from last season's team and add two potent transfers, junior Soeren Lindner and sophomore Jeff Eggelston. Lindner, who came from Southern Methodist University when the school cut its cross country program, will be pushing for a top spot on the team after a tremendous season for the Mustangs in which he ran the fastest time in the nation for the 3000m steeplechase.
Leading the way for the Cavaliers will be Christian, who was the team's number one runner in every race last season, earning all-conference and all-region honors along the way. The determined Christian has set even higher goals for himself for this season: individual conference champion and All-American.
Alex Tatu, a sophomore who, by the end of his freshman track season, was running some of the best times on the squad also figures to be an important piece to the team's puzzle. All in all, the Cavaliers seem to have a good mix of depth and talent, youth and experience.
"We have a mix of some really talented young people with some very experienced veterans," coach Jason Dunn said. "This is the kind of team you want to have."
The women's team, however, is a bit of a mystery. Two years ago, the women were in the top 20 nationally, but last season they were plagued by injuries and defections and slipped to sixth in the ACC.
There is reason for optimism, however. Senior Cheryl Carr has improved her times greatly and last season's number two runner, sophomore Angie Saterstad, expects to be stronger with a year of college running under her belt.
Redshirt sophomore Kara Scanlin, who two years ago was an all-conference and all-region runner, also returns after sitting out a year due to injuries.
"Kara is someone who brings some great experience with her," Dunn said. "Just her presence alone and the experience she brings is what I'm hoping she can bring to the team. By the end of the season, around pre-nationals time, I expect she can get back to the level she was at two years ago, where she can really help us."
The teams' first true test against national-level competition will come Oct. 1 at the Great American Cross Country Festival, but Dunn said he is waiting until the pre-nationals meet two weeks later before assessing his two squads' chances for postseason triumph.
Then, Dunn and his teams will know just how much difference a year makes.
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