The LSU cross country team look for a fresh start to the 2013 season as they head to the Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday in both the men and women’s first competition of the season.
The Tigers come into the year hoping to rebound after a disappointing 2012 season, where the Tigers finished last in the 2012 Southeastern Conference Championships and failed to place a runner in the top 90 at the 2012 NCAA South Central Regional.
“Going into the race, it’s about being competitive and being mentally tough,” said junior runner Bryan Mutell. “It’s always weird coming into the summer after not racing. It’s kind of like a rustbuster to see where we all are.”
One of the biggest changes to the team comes in new coach Khadevis Robinson, who took over after former coach Mark Elliott became the director of track and field at Clemson.
Robinson brings a new attitude to the team he hopes will change the psyche of the Tigers heading into the race.
“I’ve gained a whole new mindset from Khadevis,” Mutell said. “We know we’ve been kind of dormant, so the only place to go from here is up.”
The Lady Tigers, meanwhile, will look for production from new faces after losing four seniors from 2012 and bringing in five freshmen. Four of the top five Lady Tigers from the 2012 NCAA South Central Regional graduated, including 2012 All-Southeastern Conference second team Laura Carleton. These departures leave senior Laura Aleman as the only member of the team with extensive experience.
Although the Invitational will be in its 25th year of operation, this will be the first year LSU has competed in the event.
“It’s always fun to see what’s new as a runner,” said junior runner Michelle Mobley. “I don’t really like to know what the race is going to entail before I do it.”
Robinson realizes the team’s current situation leaves it with little choice to make noise at the Invitational. However, Robinson foresees the race as a chance to analyze where the Tigers stand competitively.
“We have a young team on both sides, so to be honest it’s going to be a challenge I know that coming in,” Robinson said. “This race is going help me understand where the athletes are at as far as who’s going to put what type of effort in.”
The race gives LSU a chance to face some conference opponents they will face later into the season as the Tigers and Lady Tigers will run against SEC foes Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and South Carolina.
The Tigers begin their race at 6:55 a.m., while the Lady Tigers begin at 7:30 a.m.