Rittenhouse Ready for FSU Invitational
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It’s another opportunity for Miami cross country to compete against some of the best teams in the country.
Lined up against five ACC foes and four SEC programs, Miami will go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the country to see where they match up.
For the second race this season, FSU, the University of Florida and Georgia Tech, will all compete against the Canes. The men’s 8000m and women’s 5000m will also have Boston College, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Auburn in competition.
But it’s still the opportunity to compete that has Miami runner Justin Rittenhouse excited for the second race of the season.
“I just enjoy getting out there with the guys every morning,” Rittenhouse said. “Just running with a team opposed to running alone is so much better and I’m excited to get back out there this weekend.”
The sophomore enters Friday’s race with a goal to break a 26-minute 8K, while also improving Miami’s team score. It’s an opportunity he doesn’t want to take for granted with the season being shortened due to COVID-19.
“We want that pack mentality and [want to] be closer to Andrew [Madden] to score less points,” Rittenhouse said.
Heading in to year two, Rittenhouse has already seen improvement in not only his physical stamina, but also his mental focus. It’s a feat that distance coach Cody Halsey also sees in the young runner.
“I’m excited to see how Justin competes this weekend,” Halsey said. “He’s been exceptionally dialed in and I feel like he’s really grown in his fitness and confidence. He’s a totally different athlete than he was this time last year, mentally and physically.”
With so many ACC competitors scheduled to compete this week, it’s an opportunity to see where the team stacks up against its competition. After the weekend, Miami heads to Cary, N.C., on Oct. 30 for the ACC Championships.
It’s an advantage Halsey hopes her young squad can take full advantage of.
“Any time they can toe the line with some of the best teams and athletes in the country is a great opportunity that I hope we take advantage of,” Halsey said. “I’d like for the men and women to know where they match up and where they should strive to be.”
