Julie Macedo is ready to run.
With top runners Agata Strausa, Stephanie Strasser and Cory McGee getting a week of rest as the women’s cross country team travels to Orlando for the Disney Cross Country Classic, Florida’s younger team members have an opportunity to compete at the college level.
“We’re training hard and not tapering for this meet,” Macedo said. “The past few weeks, all of the workouts have been strong, and all of the girls are looking good.”
Five runners will be competing for the Gators this weekend: Macedo, freshmen Taylor Tubbs and Amber Johnson, junior Macy Huskey and redshirt senior Brittany Koziara.
Coach Paul Spangler hopes to see at least one of them step up during the 5K race on Saturday. Spangler is looking to determine who will travel with the team to compete at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Oct. 19, the team’s last meet before the Southeastern Conference Championships on Nov. 1.
“You kind of have an idea where everybody is fitness-wise and you can project ‘OK, where do we stand and how good are we?’” he said.
“But you’re always looking for that one person to have that breakthrough performance. You’re going to have races where maybe somebody doesn’t have the best race, so when you have somebody have an unexpected performance, it can really help out.”
Macedo has the ability to be one of those top runners. As a true freshman last year, she earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team by posting a time of 22:03.55 at the SEC Championships, which was eighth among Florida runners.
“It was exciting to come in and be able to contribute right away,” Macedo said. “As a freshman, you don’t always expect to travel, and it was a nice surprise.“
Despite the accolades, the sophomore felt that her performance was subpar.
“Last season, I actually didn’t do that well for my standards, so this year I’m looking to improve a lot,” Macedo said. “I want to be All-SEC, which means top seven.”
Macedo has competed in both meets for the women’s team this season.
She finished third at the Western Carolina Invitational on Aug. 30, running the two-mile course in a time of 10:57.89.
She placed second on the team and sixth overall at the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 14, posting a time of 21:37.94 on the 6K track — almost 30 seconds faster than her time at the SEC Championships in November 2012.
Macedo is aiming to keep the momentum going and earn a spot at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.
“I’m looking to run a personal best, score for my team and do as well as I can” Macedo said.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126.
