ACC cross country heads to Oklahoma this weekend

Allen Community College’s cross country team is heading to Stillwater, Okla., for the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree meet on Saturday.
“It’s the benchmark of where your teams’ fitness is,” coach Vince DeGrado said. “I’ve always liked that meet because it’s hard and hilly. It’s a hard course, we’re not going to run it fast. We’ll be in the small college race.”
DeGrado contemplated moving his team up to the university-level race, where Division I, II and III colleges compete. However, the race is already expensive, and the team has had success in the junior college division.
“We’ve won second place over the past two years,” DeGrado said. “I’m a creature of habit like every other cross country coaches are.”
At this point in the season, DeGrado said his team is ahead of last year’s team. He noted the team isn’t as naturally talented, but works all the harder during training.
“Sometimes, working harder is better than having talent,” DeGrado said.
He thinks the team should be in the fourth to seventh place range, but could get third if everyone runs a great race.
At the beginning of the season, DeGrado said that freshman Pedro Montoya could be a great asset to the team. So far, he hasn’t disappointed.
Montoya has led the men’s team in each race. He finished in second place at the first meet of the season out of 60 runners. In the second meet, he finished in ninth place out of 129 runners. Last week, he placed 23rd out of 154 runners.
DeGrado said the reason he finished a little behind last week was due to how much training he put in.
“He shot himself in the foot with how many miles he put in. Between Thursday and the race, he ran nearly 20 miles,” DeGrado said. “You can’t do that and expect to have your legs under you.”
On the other hand, Brock Artis ran 14 miles. DeGrado said that is a big difference. Artis finished last week’s race in 25th place.
“I think where our training is at this week, you’re going to see the Pedro we saw in the first two races.”
Alisn Stevens has had to run the women’s meets as the lone ACC representative. DeGrado said that the isolation has been hard on Stevens, who placed 85th in last week’s race.
“She did a heck of a job, it was humid and hot. No one’s times were faster than last year’s. She did a great job,” DeGrado said. “For her to be doing this by herself is hard. I know mentally it’s hard for her. She’s done a way better job. She’s fitter and put on a lot of miles.”
Saturday’s meet starts at 8 a.m. The women run a 5k and the men compete in an 8k.