Sykes Leading Young Canes to FSU Invitational
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami cross country team and junior Dylan Sykes are ready to challenge themselves on Friday at the FSU Invitational for the Canes’ third race of the season.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete in the final regular-season race of the season before entering championship season. Sykes is just one of three upperclassmen on the men’s side and has proven to be a leader for a side with four freshmen. Although he guided his younger teammates in the opening weeks of the season, Sykes believe this freshmen class has the natural instinct to compete this season.
“I was guiding the freshmen definitely in the first couple of weeks, but that class is very driven,” Sykes said. “They’ve all been working extremely hard these last couple months and besides a couple minor things, being an upperclassmen, it’s really just showing up every day and putting in that work to have them key off you. The younger classmen need that guidance, but not directly. They’re people who will go and work on their own, they’ll push themselves to be the best they can be.”
It was only natural for Sykes to take the leadership role as he’s one of two juniors on the team, alongside side senior Matthew Wiefels. Assistant cross country coach Cody Halsey believes Sykes is an integral part to the team’s future.
“He’s taken the freshmen under his wing and I think the freshmen are doing so well because they have people like Dylan to follow,” Halsey said. “He’s definitely my highest mileage guy and the freshmen came in very low mileage. They see a guy like Dylan and are trying to aspire to get there and it’s been really helpful and fun to watch.”
Sykes and company are scheduled to compete in just its third race, but have seen big strides in their improvement. Fitness and training has only improved with the new culture to the program and it’s visible to both Halsey and Sykes.
“I feel like my progression, and even the team’s progression has gone an exponential curve,” Sykes. “Everyone, week after week, is just stacking fitness. You can clearly see the difference between getting on campus to now, just a month in a half later.”
Both Halsey and Sykes want to see the Grand Rapids, Mich., native at the front of this weekend’s pack. A strong performance with nothing left to give is all Halsey is asking from her entire team this weekend.
“I’d like to see Dylan get out there, run hard with the front group,” Halsey said. “I think he’s capable of doing it. I think he’s really put in some hard, long training and if he goes out and trusts his training and trusts what he’s actually capable of doing, I think he’d be really proud of himself. Ultimately, I want to see him go out there and really put out a good effort and be proud of himself when he finishes knowing he left it all out there on the course.”
And for the team…
“There’s no expectation in the fact that we can’t mess up this weekend. I want them to go out there and run hard and not be afraid to hurt and not be afraid to take chances because that’s where the magic happens. I want them to leave it all out there on the course and then come to me and say, ‘ Man that’s all I had, here’s where I’m at and here’s where I need to get better.’ There’s no repercussions on going out and trying something new. I want them to go out and not be afraid to hurt and take chances.”
