Badgers prepare for postseason action
October 26, 2016 | Men's Cross Country
UW travels to Minnesota for 2016 Big Ten Cross Country Championship
MADISON, Wis. — One of Wisconsin Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne's most famous sayings is that his program's focus is on "Big Tens and beyond", as in the postseason competitions are the most important meets of the season.
"We always talk about preparing for the postseason," Byrne said. "You can't talk about that and not mean it and not believe that. We'll always train for that last part of the season."
The first leg of "Big Tens and beyond" is on Sunday as the Badgers head to the Twin Cities for the 2016 Big Ten Cross Country Championship.
"I expect both teams to go in and compete for the Big Ten title," Byrne said. "I think both races are wide open, and you don't always get that opportunity. All you can ask your kids to do is get in a fight, and I think we are certainly in a position where we can go in to fight and to win another Big Ten title."
Sunday's championship meet marks UW's second trip to the Les Bolstad Course, as the Badgers opened their campaign at the Oz Memorial Invitational on Sept. 9.
"Anytime you're familiar with the course, it's a big advantage," Byrne said. "We've given our student-athletes maps of the course and we've told them that their job is to study it. Their job is to know every twist and turn, every bump in that course and every little rise. It's a rhythm breaker and it's the type of course that I love as it's challenging.
"We're prepared for it, we've been preparing for this all year. But having the opportunity to run on it was absolutely huge."
UW did well during the Oz Memorial as the Wisconsin men won the race thanks to a one-two finish by Morgan McDonald and Malachy Schrobilgen. On the women's side, Shaelyn Sorensen won the individual title in her home state to help the Badgers finish runner-up in the team race.
Sunday's championship, which starts with the women's six-kilometer race at 10 a.m. and concludes with the men's eight-kilometer race at 11 a.m., also marks the first time in conference history that the cross country championship will be shown live on BTN.
"We, the coaches in the Big Ten, have pushed for this for years," Byrne said. "It's the trend in our sport to show championship meets live on TV, as all the major conferences are doing it. It's exciting for our athletes, it's exciting for fans who can't make it to Minneapolis.
"Anytime you get the opportunity to put your kids out there on TV and put your name out there, it's awesome."
"We always talk about preparing for the postseason," Byrne said. "You can't talk about that and not mean it and not believe that. We'll always train for that last part of the season."
The first leg of "Big Tens and beyond" is on Sunday as the Badgers head to the Twin Cities for the 2016 Big Ten Cross Country Championship.
"I expect both teams to go in and compete for the Big Ten title," Byrne said. "I think both races are wide open, and you don't always get that opportunity. All you can ask your kids to do is get in a fight, and I think we are certainly in a position where we can go in to fight and to win another Big Ten title."
Sunday's championship meet marks UW's second trip to the Les Bolstad Course, as the Badgers opened their campaign at the Oz Memorial Invitational on Sept. 9.
"Anytime you're familiar with the course, it's a big advantage," Byrne said. "We've given our student-athletes maps of the course and we've told them that their job is to study it. Their job is to know every twist and turn, every bump in that course and every little rise. It's a rhythm breaker and it's the type of course that I love as it's challenging.
"We're prepared for it, we've been preparing for this all year. But having the opportunity to run on it was absolutely huge."
UW did well during the Oz Memorial as the Wisconsin men won the race thanks to a one-two finish by Morgan McDonald and Malachy Schrobilgen. On the women's side, Shaelyn Sorensen won the individual title in her home state to help the Badgers finish runner-up in the team race.
Sunday's championship, which starts with the women's six-kilometer race at 10 a.m. and concludes with the men's eight-kilometer race at 11 a.m., also marks the first time in conference history that the cross country championship will be shown live on BTN.
"We, the coaches in the Big Ten, have pushed for this for years," Byrne said. "It's the trend in our sport to show championship meets live on TV, as all the major conferences are doing it. It's exciting for our athletes, it's exciting for fans who can't make it to Minneapolis.
"Anytime you get the opportunity to put your kids out there on TV and put your name out there, it's awesome."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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