Byrne's Badgers running with camaraderie and a purpose
November 10, 2011 | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 10, 2011
BY BRANDON HARRISON
UW Athletic Communications
MADISON, Wis. -- Sustained success. Tradition.
Those words epitomize what the Wisconsin men's cross country program has strived for and been built upon.
Years later, the goals and mindset remain the same.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the country by the USTFCCCA national coaches' poll, this year's team has worked to represent Wisconsin and uphold that sustained success.
Two weeks ago in Champaign, Ill., the team ran to the program's 13th-straight Big Ten conference title in convincing fashion. This weekend, they'll have the chance to contend another streak, with a 10th-straight NCAA Great Lakes Regional title on the line, Saturday in Toledo, Ohio.
Think those streaks don't mean that much to the program and its runners?
Head coach Mick Byrne related a recent meeting with one of his top runners.
| 2011 NCAA Great Lakes Regional | |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 12 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | Toledo, Ohio | Ottawa Park |
| Meet Info | NCAA Great Lakes Regional Central |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | University of Toledo campus |
| Meet Schedule | Men (10K): 11 a.m. (CT) Women (6K): 12:15 p.m. (CT) |
| Course Info | Directions | Course Maps  |
| Live Coverage | @Badger_Track on Twitter  |
"I brought him in and I sat him down in my office earlier this week," Byrne said. "We were talking about the regional meet, his recovery from Big Tens and the possibility of holding him out this week for regionals.
"He looked me straight in the eye and he said, `I'm running regionals.
"'Because when I put on that singlet, there's a lot of pride, there's a lot of history and there's a lot of team spirit. I want to be part of that. That's what I came to Wisconsin for.'"
This year's Badgers have made it vocal to their coach, on numerous occasions, that the thought of the streaks and success ending is what drives them. They don't want to be on that team that loses.
Byrne credits their success to the camaraderie they experience from running together, and the strength they find in one another.
It's a dynamic unlike any he's seen in his 20 plus years of coaching.
"More than any other group I've ever coached, they have an incredible capability of reading a race, and a great trust in one another in being able to do that," he said.
But, while they take great pride in the program's win streaks, Byrne knows that things don't last forever, and both he and his runners need to be mentally prepared for anything.
"You know, the streaks come to an end," he said. "All good things end."
One thing the Badgers can control, however, is a constant and motivated work ethic.
The competition around them continues to improve, and in order to remain at the top, the Badgers must first focus on themselves.
"We've got to stay on top of our game to stay on top of this conference," Byrne said. "I'm aware of that, our kids are aware of that, and they take tremendous pride in that responsibility and that challenge."
The Badgers have amassed four consecutive team victories this season, and their confidence is high. But, more importantly, Byrne says his men are staying humble and staying hungry.
"There's great momentum and great confidence on this team right now," he said. "You see it, and you can feel it. I think it would be detrimental for us to stop that."
And frankly, there's no better time for a confident and hungry group of runners than now.
"If we preach all the time about `Big Tens and beyond,' well, we're in the beyond right now," Byrne said.
With teams in prime condition, competition at it's, finest and now just weeks away from the NCAA championship, Byrne loves to see that drive and competiveness, but feels it's important for his runners to also reserve themselves.
"The only objective this week is to advance to the NCAA championships," he said. "Do it without going into the well too deep. Get in, run the race, and get out of there without banging ourselves up too much."
So, why even risk running in the Great Lakes Regional when the team is already in a great spot to receive an at-large bid for the NCAA championship regardless?
According to Byrne, his runners refused to let Wisconsin go unrepresented.
"We went as far as to address it as a group and as a team," Byrne said. "They all said that they wanted to run in this race."
Giving them a great challenge at the Big Ten championship, Wisconsin will again face off against seventh-ranked Indiana in this weekend's regional. Yet, Byrne showed where the team focus truly lies, and is confident his runners will as well.
"We're not concerned with what Indiana will throw at us," Byrne said. "In respect to what they do, and in respect to what any other teams do, we're going to stick to what we do and what we do well.
"Our battle (with Indiana) was at the Big Ten championship, and we won.
"We'll have another battle down in Terre Haute in two weeks' time."
The battle is at the NCAA championship, which will take place Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind. Feeling comfortable with his group of five top runners, Byrne's still looking for those sixth and seventh men to step up.
In addition to using the Great Lakes Regional to gauge where some of his younger runners are at, Byrne has prepared a special workout at the Zimmer Championship Course to give additional opportunity to impress.
"We're not handing a spot on our national team to someone. You have to earn it," Byrne said. "We're challenging four or five guys to show the top five that they want to go to Terre Haute with them.
"We have a lot of talented guys waiting in the wings, but in saying that, it's time for those guys to show that they want to join the top five and be a part of the great tradition."
