The UNC Wilmington men’s and women’s cross country teams have prepared all season for this. Five meets have passed and now all that’s left is the CAA Championships Oct. 29.

Entering the pivotal meet, there is a concern for the women’s team because of injuries and illnesses that have put a hold on progression. Senior Lindsay Ester, last year’s top runner, was held out of competition with an injury for the first four meets of the season before finally returning to the trail at the Blue Ridge Open Invitational Oct. 14.

Assistant coach Layne Schwier looked for improvement from other runners to compete in Ester’s absence. “In the (Georgia State Invitational), we were trying pack running,” Schwier said. “In cross country, you begin by establishing the pack.”

Pack running is the ability for runners to stay together so they can work together to score the lowest points possible. However, this has been a problem. “The women are more spread out,” he said. “There are gaps between the first and second packs.”

Even though Ester’s absence was a major loss, there is one member that is looking to break out. Freshman Kim Black has been given the opportunity to become that impact runner, and so far in her first season at the college level she has been right with the pack.

“I’m a walk on, so I feel that I have to impress everyone more,” Black said. “I worked out very hard this summer.” Kim has finished in the top six of the team in every meet.

“I expect to score points every meet for the team and improve my time to stay in the top six for conference,” Black said.

Team chemistry is still strong, despite the new mix of runners. Captain Erin Brennan says that the team is very close and the team is made up of good friends. “We hang out a lot after classes…there are a lot of personalities that are matching well,” Brennan said.

As a leader, Brennan set the example for the other women runners by taking over the No. 1 runner spot in Ester’s absence. “It’s kind of tough but at the same time, it’s a good feeling,” Brennan said. “There are a lot of freshmen and returning runners. It’s not that I’m leading; I need them.” With enthusiasm, she spoke highly of her teammates and the progression that is potential of the team.

“I think as a whole, the team will improve,” she said. “We look to surprise a lot of people because of our low expectations.” Even with the current problem of pack running and having younger runners, the Seahawks are not giving up.

Head coach Jim Sprecher said, “We need to rely on our veteran runners and need to be healthy. We are looking to finish in the top half of the conference. We don’t have the depth like other schools. The younger runners need to be developed due to the increase in mileage.”

 Schwier agrees, adding, “People need to step up, keep training hard and do what they are supposed to do.”

To this point, a lot of work has been put into making improvements. At the Georgia State Invitational, there was a large gap between Brennan and UNCW’s second runner. Also, the pack was not as tight. But at the George Mason Invitational Oct. 1, there was an improvement in pack running. The gap from first to second in the Georgia State meet was 17 positions, but at the Mason Invite the gap was narrowed to 11.

With the women’s team trying to find its identity, the men are striving for excellence. Led by senior captain Wil Zahorodny, the men are looking like the team they hoped to be this season.

“The men are looking to be a little higher up this year,” Schwier said, referring to the CAA Championships in Hampton, Ga.

 Sprecher has been impressed by Zahorodny so far. “There are two things that are important, the pack runners and your front runners,” Sprecher said. “Wil has stepped up. The men’s pack is a lot better and there are a lot of veteran runners.”