The University of Oregon. NCAA Champions in XC. NCAA Champions in Indoor Track. Points. Team. The kids on these teams get faster along the way. Why? How? Don't doubles slow you down? Depends. Need motivation when you run that third lap of the 1600m? How about laps 5 and 6 of a two mile?
Or that straightaway AFTER the Bowl?
Nothing beats your obligation to the boys and girls on your team to do your job.
In this interview Andrew Wheating talks about how tired heats and rounds get you at Pac 10's. But, he gets through them because the chance to win as a team will always get him to dig deeper.
I've always felt that a baton makes people dangerous. Give a person a baton, which symbolizes team, and magic happens.
So, here is a brief interview with one of the studs from the 2008 Trials. Remember, XC is the ultimate team sport. No baton needed for magic in XC. You just need 5 willing to go to the line for each other.
The Men and Women of Oregon get it. Do you?