Temple University Athletics
Saturday, January 23
Augusta, Kan.
12:00 PM
Temple University
at
JK Gold Classic
Men’s Cross Country Opens 2020-21 Season at JK Gold Classic
1.22.21 | Men's Cross Country
PHILADELPHIA – After having their fall season pushed to the spring, the Temple men's cross country team is set to open the unprecedented 2020-21 season this Saturday, Jan. 23 in Augusta, Kansas at the JK Gold Classic.
In his eighth season leading the cross country program, head coach James Snyder is excited to get back to competing with his squad. Snyder returns just three upperclassmen as he added nine freshmen to this year's roster. With the season being delayed by six months, Snyder feels that this group of freshmen is even more ready to compete than any other rookie group he has ever coached.
"I do think in some ways that the pause on the fall has allowed them to take a much bigger step forward in their freshman year than they otherwise would have if we were competing in the fall," expressed Snyder. "While it will be their first time running in a Temple singlet, those guys are much further along than most of our freshmen have been in the past because they got an additional five or six months to train together, which has been really beneficial. So I'm really excited to see what those guys can do."
The team made it a priority to spend the fall semester as a group to not only train together but grow together as a team, despite having the option to stay at home and attend their classes online. The underclassmen were able to get to know each other while senior Kristian Jensen and juniors Ethan Koza and Sean Egan helped the young crew adapt to college athletics and academics.
"Whatever we're going to do in Wichita in two weeks at the conference championship meet on February 6th is going to be a better showing than what we could've done October 31st had the season gone as planned because these guys were training their butts off together last semester," reflected Snyder. "So they're in a good place and they are going to be infinitely further along not only athletically but also from a team camaraderie perspective."
Unlike any season before, the men's cross country team will have the chance to race on the course that will host the AAC Championship prior to the championship meet. The JK Gold Classic, hosted by Wichita State, will take place at Four Mile Creek Resort in Augusta, Kan. The American Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 6 will also take place at Four Mile Creek Resort.
"Having the opportunity to see the conference course before the conference meet is a luxury we haven't had in any year," commented coach Snyder.
Heading into tomorrow's opening meet, Snyder wants the team to continue to build upon their pack mentality. "We want to make sure we have tight packs and make sure we have a small spread from one-to-five, two-to-five, one-to-seven, making sure we're running as tightly as possible together and pushing each other."
The men's 6,000 meter race is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.
In his eighth season leading the cross country program, head coach James Snyder is excited to get back to competing with his squad. Snyder returns just three upperclassmen as he added nine freshmen to this year's roster. With the season being delayed by six months, Snyder feels that this group of freshmen is even more ready to compete than any other rookie group he has ever coached.
"I do think in some ways that the pause on the fall has allowed them to take a much bigger step forward in their freshman year than they otherwise would have if we were competing in the fall," expressed Snyder. "While it will be their first time running in a Temple singlet, those guys are much further along than most of our freshmen have been in the past because they got an additional five or six months to train together, which has been really beneficial. So I'm really excited to see what those guys can do."
The team made it a priority to spend the fall semester as a group to not only train together but grow together as a team, despite having the option to stay at home and attend their classes online. The underclassmen were able to get to know each other while senior Kristian Jensen and juniors Ethan Koza and Sean Egan helped the young crew adapt to college athletics and academics.
"Whatever we're going to do in Wichita in two weeks at the conference championship meet on February 6th is going to be a better showing than what we could've done October 31st had the season gone as planned because these guys were training their butts off together last semester," reflected Snyder. "So they're in a good place and they are going to be infinitely further along not only athletically but also from a team camaraderie perspective."
Unlike any season before, the men's cross country team will have the chance to race on the course that will host the AAC Championship prior to the championship meet. The JK Gold Classic, hosted by Wichita State, will take place at Four Mile Creek Resort in Augusta, Kan. The American Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 6 will also take place at Four Mile Creek Resort.
"Having the opportunity to see the conference course before the conference meet is a luxury we haven't had in any year," commented coach Snyder.
Heading into tomorrow's opening meet, Snyder wants the team to continue to build upon their pack mentality. "We want to make sure we have tight packs and make sure we have a small spread from one-to-five, two-to-five, one-to-seven, making sure we're running as tightly as possible together and pushing each other."
The men's 6,000 meter race is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.
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