The Review

Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Kyle Schmid Kyle Schmid's best time of the season is 25:38 in the 8K.

The gun sounds and Delaware senior Kyle Schmid takes off to endure approximately 25 minutes of pain. With the leaders in sight, he keeps his rhythm but remains unsure where the runners behind him lurk. Schmid, the Delaware men's cross country senior captain, stays under control and bursts through the finish line. He is glad the race ends and knows tolerating the pain paid off. Schmid said this is the usual feeling during each race.

He finished third in the Delaware Invitational # 2 on Oct. 13 with a time of 26:14.

The men's cross country team has enjoyed a successful season thus far and currently prepares for the postseason, which begins Oct. 26 at Hofstra. With Delaware's first place finishes at the Towson Invitational, Monmouth Invitational and Delaware Invitational #2, the Hens have placed in the top-two positions in all but one of their races.

The men's cross country team looks to send runners to the NCAA District 2 Championships on Nov. 10 at Lehigh and the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Championships at Van Cortlandt State Park in New York, N.Y. on Nov. 17.

Schmid said the team focuses on what lays ahead now that Delaware heads into the latter part of the season.

Head coach Jim Fischer agreed his team has set higher goals for the remainder of the year.

"We want to be more aggressive than in the past," Fischer said. "It is about re-establishing ourselves as a strong team in this conference."

With six seniors on the men's squad this season, the leadership on the team has been outstanding, as the seniors look to go out on top, he said. The seniors have been crucial and lead by example.

Senior captain Tim Brock said he has learned a lot throughout his participation in the cross-country program and has vastly improved as a runner.

"It's nice to help out coach Fischer and convey what the program is all about," Brock said.

Schmid, who has notched a first-place win and two third-place finishes this year, said he believes in the team's coaching staff and he has become much faster since his freshman year.

The upcoming meets mark the end of the seniors' cross- country careers as they hope to continue the success they have had all season. Although the runners have gone through some injuries, they have done well and are getting healthy at the right time, Fischer said.

Continued...

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