Aug. 31, 2011
2011 AUBURN CROSS COUNTRY BROCHURE
AUBURN, Ala. - After fighting through a trying 2010 season, Auburn cross country is back again in 2011 to make another run in the Southeastern Conference.
The Tigers will be facing tough nationally recognized competition, especially in the SEC. According to Head Coach Mark Carroll, the ability for his team to improve and learn over the course of the season is there.
"Our training is pretty much geared to the meets prior to the SEC," Carroll said. "That is where we want everybody to be in top shape and heading toward their peak."
This season's team will be challenged from the start as many of its members are newcomers.
The Auburn men's squad will feature international newcomers Nicholas Buhner from Germany and Australian Kane Grimster, as well as a pair of seniors in Jeff Sanders and team captain Joby Peake. The women's side will include six freshmen and be led by junior Alissa Fisher and sophomore Elizabeth Briasco.
Despite having 10 combined newcomers among the men and women, Coach Carroll is excited for the future.
"We are in a bit of a rebuilding phase," Carroll said. "We've worked hard and I think we'll have a good first step and a few good years to come."
Auburn kicks off its season with a head-to-head meet at Troy this Saturday, the first of five meets before the SEC Championship on October 31. The Tigers will also travel to events hosted by Notre Dame, Alabama and Florida State.
Coach Carroll likes the idea of having a dual meet at Troy to start the season as it will help in the development of the athletes.
"The races are shorter so it gives us the opportunity to see evaluate where everybody is and lets us get into race shape for some of those bigger races," Carroll said. "The point of the area races is to get us back into the swing of race mode."
Auburn returns home on September 9 for their lone home meet of the season, the Auburn Invitational, in which it will face FSU, Southern Mississippi and Kennesaw State, among others.