Cyclones ready to run amid many modifications

Fall 2020 was not the season anyone expected, but the Cyclone women’s cross country team is still on tap to run.

COVID-19 put all college sports in limbo in March, but allowed certain fall sports to compete and practice with limitations, including cross country. They have fewer days to practice, must wear masks at all times except when running, must fill out forms and have their temperatures taken before all practices and competitions, cannot leave the state for competition, and aren’t supposed to run in groups. Typically, the Cyclones run in races with and hosted by other four-year colleges and universities. However, all those contests were canceled, leaving Moraine Valley with just two newly introduced running events and a dual meet.

When runners aren’t at the three-day approved team practice, they have workouts to do on their own at home or the gym. They can log their mileage, thanks to GPS watches, on an app so Head Coach Dimitri Dimizas can access their progress.

Although cross country is based on individual performance, runners use each other to maintain pace and stay grouped during competition to finish strong in a pack. Building a team bond to make that happen occurs during practices as well as off the course, but this year is different.

“On recovery days usually we’d go in a classroom and talk as a team. But, that’s not allowed now. So, the athletes come, run and leave. Team bonding is arguably the best part of the season, and it’s not available,” said Dimizas, who is entering his fifth season leading the program.

Region and conference competitions are still questionable this season, and the team isn’t allowed to travel to nationals because it’s being hosted in Iowa. Instead of aiming for championships and the Big Dance, the freshmen are getting an idea of how to train at the college level while sophomores are working on their speed to potentially compete at their transfer school.

Between all the changes, the Cyclones were left with one sophomore in Jaime Funk (Sandburg) to lead the three freshmen: Jasmeene Guido (Eisenhower), Stephanie Tuscher (Sandburg) and Olivia Wrobel (Richards).

The Cyclones run their first event, a dual, on Sept. 12 at College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois.

For updates on Cyclone Athletics, visit mvcyclones.com.