Coach Paul Spangler knows the importance of seizing every opportunity to improve.
He has emphasized capitalizing on opportunities often to the women’s cross country team, and now they have changed the schedule in an attempt to progress by competing against some of the elite teams in the country.
Instead of racing at the Walt Disney Invitational on Oct. 11, they’ll instead race Saturday in the Paul Short Run at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn.
The race, a 6k for the women, will be run by more than 100 teams, including 55 Division I teams. Florida has a chance to compete against schools from across the country, including Alabama, Miami and South Carolina.
The race also gives the Gators a chance to compete against many schools in the northeast that it wouldn’t normally have a chance to race against.
"It’s a great meet," Spangler said. "It’s going to be a great opportunity for the women to earn some at-large points towards the National Championships, and I know they’re really looking forward to the meet this weekend."
While the entire roster is comprised of Gators craving the competition, maybe none are craving it more than redshirt junior Grace VanDeGrift. A Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Selection in 2011, VanDeGrift has been sidelined from the cross country team due to numerous injuries, including a meniscus tear, stress fractures in her leg and multiple back injuries.
She began doubting if she would ever return to the sport she has devoted her entire life to.
"It’s discouraging," VanDeGrift said. "It’s especially tough when you train to get back in shape, and you’re faced with another injury.
"It’s really mentally and emotionally straining, getting hurt again when you feel like you’re so close to getting back."
Despite the odds against her, VanDeGrift returned to the team this year and competed in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 20.
While most would have been happy to just be back, VanDeGrift had other plans in mind. She has to show she is better than anyone had seen.
She did just that in finishing the 5k in 17:51.11, the best time she had ever competitively run in that distance.
For someone like Spangler, who has seen her practice and battle back for years, the career-best finish was no surprise.
"My hat goes off to her," Spangler said. "A lot of athletes haven’t gone through what she’s gone through with injuries, and most probably would have given up the sport.
"Every year she’s fought back and every season she’s fought back, and to see her come out in her first cross country race in 3 years, to run a lifetime best, utmost respect for Grace and everything."
Follow Graham Hall on Twitter @graham311
