By Mitch Streufert
The 2009 cross-country season for the Louisville Cardinals is off and running, with both the men and women undefeated. At the Midwest Open in Kenosha, Wisconsin, both the Cardinal squads took first in the team titles, with the men taking the top 4 spots individually.
Senior Tarah McKay led the women, coming in second, while junior Matt Bruce set the pace for the men, completing the eight kilometer course in 24:26. The meet was a step in the right direction for both squads, according to head coach Brice Allen.
“The Midwest Open was a great result for both squads,” said Allen. “I’m very anxious to really dive into the season.”
The women’s team, filled with returning seniors, is looking to bounce back from a mediocre season in 2008. According to McKay, the experience of the seniors has been a key to the early success for the Lady Cardinals.
“Most of us are seniors this year,” said McKay. “And the experience is helping us a lot. Most of us came in with a little bit less speed, and more endurance, to help us last further into the season.”
Coach Allen is very proud of the way McKay has run her entire career, but has high hopes for the leader of his women’s squad.
“Tarah is one of the best runners in the country,” said Allen. “And she has showed it so far this season. This season should be better than any season in the past for her. I really think she is going to make a run at nationals this year.”
On the men’s squad there is a lot to be excited about, with two returning redshirt All-Americans in Cory Thorne and Michael Eaton. However, all the attention so far this year has been focused on Matt Bruce and Matt Hughes. This fact couldn’t make Coach Allen any happier.
“The thing I most excited about this year is our two returning redshirt All-Americans, Cory Thorne and Michael Eaton,” said Allen. “The great thing is, they’re not getting any of the press. All the questions have been about Matt Bruce and Matt Hughes. What that indicates to me is that we could have more than two All-Americans on our squad, which would be outstanding. We will know more about the direction of our squads after the Greater Louisville Classic.”
Louisville will be hosting the Greater Louisville Classic, its one and only home meet of the year, on Oct. 3 at Tom Sawyer Park. In 2008, redshirt sophomore Cory Thorne won the Classic for the men. But since he was redshirted, he couldn’t contribute to Louisville as a team. McKay finished in the runner-up position for the women.
Teams from across the region will be competing in the Greater Louisville Classic—including the University of Kentucky, Purdue University and the University of Tennessee. Coach Allen is confident in both the men and women to defend their home turf.
“I’m anxiously awaiting two victories at the Classic,” said Allen. “The men won the race in ‘06 and ‘07, but dropped the ball last year. The girls have never won this race in school history, so I’d really like to see them take the crown.”
