This post was updated Nov. 21 at 12:32 a.m.
Many avid readers experience a distinct feeling – each time they finish a book, the next appears to beckon to them.
The Bruins echo that sentiment as they reflect upon their season.
UCLA cross country competed Friday in the NCAA West Regional at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento. The men’s team placed ninth out of 30 teams, while the women’s team placed 12th in a field of 39. The meet was the final one for the Bruins, who were unable to qualify for the NCAA national championship meet.
But the athletes said they enter the offseason eager to open next year’s book.
“This has been a big year to gain experience for us with a young squad that hadn’t really navigated a season before,” said assistant coach Andrew Ferris. “In 12 months’ time, we can be a team preparing for the national championships.”
Friday marked a new experience for all six men’s runners, who each competed in the first 10-kilometer race of their collegiate careers. Five of them achieved top-60 finishes.
Redshirt freshman Andreas Dybdahl – who led UCLA with a 29:55.4 time and a top-20 finish – said the adjustment was not as daunting as it seemed.
“I was definitely nervous for a 10K,” Dybdahl said. “Once I was out there, I focused on being present and trying to hold on to that front pack, and it really passed the time by a lot. I didn’t really know where I was in the race, so I was just out there fighting, and it went by faster than I thought it would.”
Ferris added that the men’s team showcased its most complete performance of the season at the regional.
As for the women’s team, Ferris said Friday’s performance was encouraging, given the adverse circumstances it has faced.
“Given the circumstances outside of our control this year, I think they did pretty well,” Ferris said. “We scored less points than 12 months ago with a very young team. I thought they handled themselves well.”
Freshman Evie Marheineke led the women’s squad with a time of 20:46.0 – the fastest time of her career – good for a top-45 finish.
“From the start, I just felt really good,” Marheineke said. “It was a little bit intimidating being further in front of the pack than I usually am, but I just felt really good throughout the whole race. It was just taking that and going with it and continuing to push each K marker.”
Marheineke’s emergence has been swift – two top-60 postseason meets and a top-30 regular season meet in a freshman season that almost didn’t happen, after Ferris nearly redshirted her.
“I’m really proud of my season,” Marheineke said. “I didn’t have a great senior cross country and track season because (of) some health issues. So it was really fun to go out there and feel good about my races and … have some good races and good workouts throughout the year, which I haven’t had in a while.”
The cross country season may be over, but the team will not have much time to rest.
The track and field season kicks off Dec. 6, with all of the cross country athletes set to participate.
“Cross country is not like track,” Dybdahl said. “Times don’t matter, and essentially, it’s a lot tougher. You can be the fittest person in the world and still go into a race like that (Friday’s regional) and not be able to execute it. … You’re going to feel good at points. You’re going to feel terrible. And I think it’s just being able to be patient. I’ve learned a lot about patience over the season.”
As the Bruins prepare for track and field, they have also taken a moment to reflect on the progress they have made in cross country and the potential for what is to come.
“It (this season) was a really good step in the right direction,” Dybdahl said. “It’s been a slow process, but that’s what has to be done when you’re turning a whole team around, and we have really committed guys who want to see how far they can take running, and the consistency has just been stacking. A ninth-place finish in the region is definitely a step in the right direction, and hopefully, next year we can come back and qualify for nationals. That’s the goal.”
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