VANCOUVER – While most university students spent the last week of summer break packing up their belongings and enjoying their last few days of freedom, members of the UBC cross country team were already hard at work - the team was holding its annual pre-season training camp in Whistler, B.C.
 
Whistler, a site where many events at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games took place, is an ideal place to hold a training camp. There are countless trails for training on, pool and gym facilities nearby, and the village with all of its attractions to explore. This year, the fifth year of the camp, is the biggest ever. There will be 52 participants attending with more are on the waiting list.
 
During the camp, goals and expectations for the season are outlined, the season's schedule is presented, and many team meetings are held. Experts in various fields come and share insights with the team on subjects from sport psychology to proper recovery strategies to optimize performance.
 
The camp functions as an opportunity for teammates to get together for the first time in the 2010 season, and start team bonding. The rookies also get introduced to the consistent training that they will need to put in if they are to succeed at the college level.
 
One thing the camp isn't though, is the starting point of the season. Since early August, the runners have been logging miles and building strength in preparation for the months ahead. Marked on the calendar of each runner - November 20. On this date, a few hours drive south of the border at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash., the Thunderbird men and women teams hope to contest for national titles.
 
Men top-5, women top-10, in pre-season coaches' polls
In a preseason coaches' poll, the UBC men are ranked fifth in the NAIA. The ranking bumps the men up four spots from where they finished off the season last year, in ninth place. Leading the NAIA rankings on the men's side is Malone (Ohio), the defending champions. Ranked second is one of the 'Birds' West coast rivals, Southern Oregon. Filling out the top four are Shawnee State (Ohio), and Embry-Riddle (Florida) in third and fourth respectively.
 
The women are ranked right where they finished the season last year, at eighth place in the NAIA. Biola (California), last years' runner up, received the first place ranking on the women's side, followed by the defending champions, Cal State San Marcos (California).
 
But November is still a long way away, and how the Thunderbirds will fare is far from determined. What's important is that the teams are running their best and peaking at the national meet, not too early. Too often other teams have made the mistake of showing well in September and October and having nothing left come November. Jederzejek plans the training each year specifically such that his runners hit their best form for the most important races.
 
Both teams are adamant on improving on their placings from last years' national championships. The men finished a slightly disappointing ninth place, after consistently ranking in the top 5 for most of the season. And while they bettered the men, their eighth place showing didn't satisfy the women either.
 
Thunderbird men
The men return three of their five scoring runners from last years' national championships, and bring in an impressive recruiting class that should minimize their losses.
 
This includes the 2009 CIS cross country rookie of the year and junior national cross country team member, Wyatt Baiton, who transfered to UBC from the University of Regina this past summer, and Justin Kent, a multiple time BC high school champion and proven cross country runner who is not afraid to push himself.
 
Returning with the best credentials is Luc Bruchet, a 2009 NAIA Cross Country All-American (17th place overall) and fellow junior world championships teammate of Baiton. Bruchet was honored as UBC's Freshman Male Athlete of the Year at the 2009 Big Block banquet, and will able out to prove his achievements last year were no fluke.
 
Also back are Nigel Hole and Jordan Smith, who scored for the 'Birds at the championships last year, and have been finalists at the NAIA track and field championships. Adding depth to the team will be Theo Hunt, Aidan Kennedy, and Tim Huebsch who are all coming off strong summer track seasons. Hunt and Kennedy both bring the experience of competing at regionals. Also returning, after taking a short break from school, is Eric Cameron, a national meet participant last year. In short, the team should have considerable depth to draw from.
 
Thunderbird women
The women lose just one of their five scoring runners from last years' eighth place national championships team. But the now graduated Sabrina Reeve will be especially missed; she was the best placed Thunderbird at last years' national meet.
 
The ladybirds are also bringing in a sound rookie class which includes Heather Slinn from the Ottawa Lions - a top 10 OFSAA XC finisher in her grade 11 year. Also making the trip across the country is fellow Ontario native Micha Gutmanis of the Newmarket Huskies, who last year helped lead her team to a highly-coveted OFSAA Gold medal. Just a few weeks ago, Gutmanis placed fifth in the 2000m steeplechase at the Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships.
 
Leading the charge this year are sophmores Nelly Amenyogbe and Maggie Woodward, who both impressed as freshmen last year. Amenyogbe finished second in the gruelling event of the marathon at the 2010 NAIA national track and field championships, and scored for the women at the national cross country meet. Woodward also impressed in cross country last year, winning the BC junior cross country championships, and being the team's top scorer at the NAIA Regional Championships and the meet's top freshman. Though she red-shirted track in the spring, Woodward posted the fourth fastest time for the indoors 5000m of NAIA women.
 
Veterans Brittany Imlach and Meredith Briggs will be hoping that their injury woes that kept them from running at their best last season, are behind them. Imlach has twice experienced the national cross country meet, and will be aiming to make it a third time come November.
 
Also figured to make an impact are Alexandra Venner and Lissa Zimmer, who made considerable improvements during the spring and summer track seasons. Venner will be sure to cut her time down by making one simple change: tying her shoes tighter. At last year's national championships meet, she lost a shoe in a thick, muddy patch, and ran most of the race with a foot bare, still managing to score for the women.
 
The start of the season
The 'Birds will start their season in Seattle, WA, at the Sundodger Invitational, hosted by the University of Washington, on Saturday September 18. Here, the men are set to defend their team title earned last year in the Open Division.
 
Two weeks later, the teams will drive further down the I-5 to Salem, Ore., for Wilamette University's Charles Bowles Invitational, historically a fast course for the 'Birds.
 
The next coaches poll and ranking, the first of the regular season, will be released September 13.