Cross Country Packs Up For UTEP
9/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 12, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston cross country teams are off to the Santa Teresa Country Club Spanish Dagger course outside El Paso, Texas this week to compete in the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational hosted by UTEP Friday, Sept. 16 alongside New Mexico State University, El Paso CC, New Mexico Highlands and UTEP.
Daniel Martinez will lead the men in a 4.25-mile race at the invitational after a performing in workouts and impressing coaches. Oumama Hallal will be out front for the women's team in the 2.7-mile run as they head off at 5:45 p.m. The men will begin shortly after the women at 6:15 p.m.
"Right now Daniel Martinez is crushing the workouts," head coach Ryan Turner said. "He's doing everything we ask and continuing to improve. Oumama is starting to show us who she really is and wants to be. I see her getting stronger and more confident every day so we're excited to see what they can do this weekend."
Despite a small meet the competition will be strong. The Cougars will be competing against UTEP, whose men's team recently earned a No. 7 ranking in the nation after winning the Lobo Invitational for the second consecutive year. The UTEP men were also picked to finish first in the Conference USA preseason polls. Other schools scheduled to participate also bring a high level of competition to the event.
"El Paso Community College is a top-10 junior college program and New Mexico Highlands is a good program. It's a small meet, but it will be a very good opportunity for us."
Houston will also have an edge come conference championship time after running this weekend because the 2007 C-USA Championship is being held at UTEP. While the actual route will be different during the championship, the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational will be run on the same course.
"We want to go there and have a chance to see the course," Turner said, "which will help us prepare in our training and give our athletes an opportunity to see what the course is going to look like."
Houston will also be able to get a preview of what running at a higher altitude will be like. Turner doesn't think the altitude will affect the actual abilities of the team but will be focusing on keeping the energy and power up among the team.
Overall, Turner wants to see the team perform together and expects good things from the Cougars at this meet.
Players Mentioned
