This indicates that Darling will be running at Oregon this weekend.
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-xc/spec-rel/101310aaa.html
"Certainly the main focus of our season is the Big Ten Championships, but this weekend’s meet is still important,” Byrne stresses. “It is important for us to see where we are at in terms of the guys that we have run.”
After competing against a Wisconsin adidas Invitational field that included seven ranked teams, Saturday’s race will only feature a total of seven teams. Byrne still recognizes that the Dellinger Invite still provides similar high-caliber competition, which is what his team wanted.
“We gave the guys what they wanted,” Byrne said. “They wanted a good meet to fill the gap in the schedule between the adidas Invite and the Big Ten Championships, and that is what they are getting.”
No. 11 Wisconsin will be joined by two teams ranked in the USTFCCCA national poll, released on Oct. 5, including third-ranked Oregon and No. 8 Portland. Guelph, Idaho, Portland State and Willamette will also be competing at Pre’s Trail in Alton Baker Park this weekend.
Although the meet was originally going to have more teams competing, Byrne sees this race as a great opportunity to play up the rivalry that Oregon (3) and Wisconsin (11) have unofficially had.
“I don’t know if we can call it a rivalry, but we both look to win the same things: a national title and our own conferences.” Byrne said. “They (Oregon) had a great run at the National Championships last year, and they are a good team to compete against.”
After their second-place team-finish at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational two weeks ago, the Badgers have been training hard to improve on issues that held them back from a first-place team finish.
“We were banged up at the adidas meet,” Byrne explained. “But now it’s two weeks later and we’ve corrected some of the issues, and now we intend to put our best team out there on Saturday.”
Among those competing for Wisconsin will be everyone but sophomore Mohammed Ahmed. Saturday’s roster includes the return of sophomore Maverick Darling who was held out of the adidas Invite due to a small injury.
“We are excited about Maverick running,” Byrne said. “We had to hold him out of the adidas meet, and now he is really looking forward to competing this weekend.”
Byrne will not be looking to his most seasoned athletes, such as senior Landon Peacock and junior Elliot Krause, to lead his team to the victory, but instead hopes that his team can use this meet as a stepping stone to see what they need to improve on before the Big Ten Championships.
“This meet is important.” Byrne stresses. “It will help them prepare mentally and physically for the Big Ten Championships.”
The men’s 8-kilometer race this weekend will begin at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
