Oct. 13, 2003
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This Week in Gael Cross Country:
In Gael cross country this week, the team travels to Sunnyvale, CA for the Santa Clara Invitational to be ran on Saturday, October 18. The race is scheduled to begin at 9:00 A.M. The men's and women's teams from Sacramento State, the University of San Diego, the University of San Francisco, and San Jose State will join host Santa Clara in the Broncos' Invite. The men's 8,000-meter race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with the women's 5,000-meter race following at 9:45 a.m. This meet concludes the Gaels' regular season to be followed by the November 1 WCC Championships in Crystal Springs, CA.
Saint Mary's on the Web:
Gael fans can access all the latest new and notes about Saint Mary's athletics on the web at www.SMCGaels.com. The official website offers the most up to date information and results of the Gaels' 15 intercollegiate sports plus much more.
Glancing at the Trail :
Baylands Park in Sunnyvale will play host to our SMC runners this Saturday. The Bronco cross country team has used this trail for the past three years primarily for interval and repeat types of training. Because Saturday's meet will be the first time this trail has been used for competition, all times will be course records. The trail is very flat and spectator friendly. Bronco officials say that the racecourse should be a great tune-up for the West Coast Conference Championships two weeks later.
Cross Country Examination: Sophomore Casey Chadd:
Casey Chadd, a native of Ukiah, CA, is in his second year with the Saint Mary's men's cross country team. The 6-1 runner made a major statement in the 2002 Gael cross country program as a freshmen, finishing ahead of every teammate at all eight races. His best time in the 8k was recorded at the Stanford Invitational on September 28, 2002 where he posted a 26:20 run. Chadd's best place finish was achieved at last year's Bronco Invite in which he crossed the line in 12th place with a time of 26:39. At the close of the 2002 season, Chadd posted a 35:35 10k performance at the NCAA Championships. This season has been productive as well, as the sophomore's fastest finish came at the San Francisco State Invite in early October; he captured 4th place with a time of 26:24 in the 8k, just four seconds slower than his personal best recorded time. In just two years, Chadd has produced solid results.
On the Trail with Coach Rau:
Saint Mary's named Randy Rau as the Cross Country head coach in August of 1999. Before joining the Gaels, Rau started the cross country program and was head coach at Dominican College in San Rafael, CA from 1992-1999. During his run as head coach of the Penguins, Rau had three runners qualify for the NAIA National Championships in the first two years of his service.
Coach Rau gave SMC's cross country program a boost when he connected with the Gaels, and in his first year as a Gael, Rau's was named the WCC Coach of the Year following a season that concluded with a men's second place finish in the West Coast Conference Championships.
Under Rau's guidance as head coach, more than five SMC cross country records have been set, including senior Allegra Porter's school record top times in both the 6k and 5k, and 2000 graduate Enrique Henriquez, who embraces the top six fastest times in the 8k.
In 1985, Rau graduated from Ohio State University, where he was a four-year letter winner on the Buckeye's cross country team. Rau also earned a master's degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise/Sports Facilities Management from San Francisco State University. In addition to coaching the Gaels, Coach Rau teaches P.E. and science in the West Contra Coasta School District.
Last Time at the Bronco Invite:
The women's team placed 8th as the men's team finished 7th overall at the 2002 invite ran at the Crystal Springs Cross Country Course in Belmont, CA. Navada won the women's race, and host Santa Clara took the men's division. The Gaels always seem to perform well at this race. Allegra Porter made Saint Mary's history at this race, setting a school record in the women's 6k with her 17:53 run, replacing Sheir Opp, who held the best time of 17:55 since 1986. Porter paced the Gaels with a 3rd place finish ahead of 112 participants from eleven schools. In men's action, then freshman Casey Chadd posted a 12 place finish with a time of 26:39, his highest place finish all season.
Next Week in Gael Cross Country:
The Gaels will use the next two weeks for a training camp leading up to the November 1 WCC Championships in Crystal Springs, CA.
