Rhapsodic runners

The upcoming season is bringing optimism and ex­citement for the coach and players on the OU cross-country team.

When asked what he thought about the team and the season, head coach Kirk Wren said he was very optimistic. The team fre­quently makes it to the na­tional competitions, and he doesn't expect this year to be any different.

Wren mentioned that he has the team doing a lot of cross-training, which are activities other than the pri­mary activity of the sport. Specifically, the team does weight lifting, biking, and swimming in addition to running for distance and speed. He noted the impor­tance of training the whole body; being ready for a race isn't just about running.

"We're going to be the leanest, strongest, smartest team out there," Wren said.

The cross training is very popular with the players as well, especially the swim­ming drills. Brandon Gar­cia, a sophomore on the team, said he enjoyed the swim workout. He also was happy to have new players starting this year.

"It's great to meet new people on the team," Garcia said.

Tyler Hazen, freshman, also expressed a preference for the swimming workout.