UCSD’s men’s and women’s cross country teams, in their last regular season event of the year, participated in homecoming festivities this past weekend by holding the UCSD Alumni 5K.
The race, the first time such a meet has been held for cross country, was considered relatively informal, with no official results recorded. However, according to Triton head coach Ted Van Arsdale, results were not the point of the meet.
“”The purpose was to get our alumni more familiar,”” Van Arsdale said. “”A number of our alumni guys came back last year to race at the Triton Classic, and the gals put their focus on racing this week. We had some of the stars from the past, and it meant a lot to our department — not only to our program — that they remain connected to a program they really established.””
Van Arsdale was extremely pleased with the overall success of the race, citing the camaraderie that the alumni and current runners had with one another.
“”Certainly we’ve been able to build a team and a tradition of being competitive at Division III consistently,”” Van Arsdale said. “”At Division II, now we’re maintaining that position, and with that, the incoming athletes get a chance to mingle with some of the best athletes … and learn from them just by who they are and what they’ve done.””
According to Van Arsdale, the field was equally split between alumni and current team members, a healthy indicator of the alumni relationship with the program.
“”We had half the group [composed] of some of the alumni of the past 10 years back,”” Van Arsdale said. “”It was really gratifying to know that individuals are still keeping fitness in mind even when they enter the work force.””
Because of scheduling conflicts in previous years, which had UCSD competing at conference championships this time of year, the team has never had an alumni meet before. However, as result of this past weekend’s success, the team is looking to make it a reality whenever the opportunity presents itself, including next year.
“”Judging from their comments afterwards, everyone had a great time — from our current [members] to the alumni,”” Van Arsdale said. “”Everyone was excited about it, enjoyed it and was thankful that we initiated it.””
The Tritons now focus entirely on beginning their postseason journey with a strong performance at conference championships this weekend, which will be used to determine whether the team will compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II West Regional.
Along with Chico State and UC Davis, both California Collegiate Athletic Association competitors, the Tritons are ranked among the top three teams in the region. A team score among the top three at the CCAA Championships at Cal State Bakersfield on Oct. 26 would earn a berth in the national championships.
“”I feel very optimistic,”” Van Arsdale said. “”The conference is all-important in establishing your position with other Division II teams. It’s a stepping-stone in preparation for the regional, but the goal is nationals. The team has worked really consistently toward the last four meets. I believe we’re on the threshold of a dream season.””
It may indeed be a dream season; the team has been extremely competitive during their meets this year, and they’ve had what Van Arsdale calls an “”ideal calendar year”” by being able to compete in the Triton Classic, conference championships and an alumni meet, but he says it is only made possible through the solidarity of the team.
“”We can only run seven [athletes] at nationals, but everyone on our team is an essential component for our success,”” Van Arsdale said. “”For everyone who runs, they represent the other 13 people on our teams.””
