Event: Doc Adams Open
Where: Putah Creek Reserve
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Who to watch: Junior Tyler Rattray hasn’t had a good race since the spring of 2007. But all that is about to change.
His expectations for the 2007 and 2008 seasons were understandably high. He clocked 15:03.08 in the 5,000m as a freshman, and then placed 11th at the Division I Independent Championships.
But a shredded Achilles‘ tendon has dashed those expectations.
Now, after hundreds of miles, countless hours of cross-training, and two early-season rust-buster races, Rattray is finally fit, healthy, and ready to roll.
Did you know? The Aggies, both men and women, haven’t lost a race at home for over two years.
That loss came in September of 2006, with the men falling to a Stanford squad that would go on to place fourth in the nation. The women fell to a strong group from California in the same event.
But since then the Aggies have found a new home at the Putah Creek Reserve, where they most recently dominated the competition at the Aggie Open on Sept. 6.
Preview: Last weekend’s Stanford Invitational was a chance to let the top Aggies shine. The women’s squad, paced by senior Kim Conley’s outstanding third place finish, finished second to three-time defending NCAA Champion Stanford. The men finished a respectable seventh.
But this week, it’s all about the younger Aggies.
With everyone who competed last weekend by sitting out, this is the perfect chance for younger runners to step it up. And with only a handful of meets left, it’s an opportunity to earn a spot on the travel squad.
Sophomore Fed Martinez, who’s only raced twice in an Aggie uniform, is looking for one of those spots.
“I’m just looking for a solid performance from all the guys who haven’t raced,” he said. “This is the make or break time of the season.“
– Alex Wolf-Root
