The Syracuse cross country teams will certainly stand out on Monday when they head to Terre Haute, Ind. to compete in the NCAA Championships.

While the women are ranked No. 12 and the men are ranked No. 9 in the nation in the latest Pre-National USTFCCCA poll, it’s more than just talent that will set them apart.

The men’s squad implemented, what sophomore Pat Dupont referred to as, ‘no shave November,’ and while some have had more success than others, the facial hair on all the runners is visible.

‘A couple of years ago we all grew it out for Penn Relays, so I guess it is an informal tradition we do to intimidate the opponents,’ said senior Dan Busby, sporting a full beard. ‘But I don’t think it will work, they will probably just think we are chumps.’

While the tactic may not be the most intimidating, it demonstrates a team unity that has been present all season. It is this unity that the Orange hopes will help them capture a top 10 finish against the nation’s top runners.

For the first time in program history, the men will run as a team in Terre Haute, while the women will compete for the second year in a row. Syracuse was the only program in the country to have both the men and women win Regionals and while the accolades continue to pile up, the season comes down to the championships.

‘They have had great goals all year and they have never gotten too carried away with being successful at all yet,’ said head coach Chris Fox. ‘We go, we do our job at the meet and then we come back on Monday and get back to work. We haven’t even talked about Regionals since it happened.’

In addition to the facial hair, the Orange will stick out, as they are one of only a handful of teams to have both their men and women racing in Terre Haute.

The Syracuse contingency will also include members of the team who are not racing, but will make the 11-hour drive to support their teammates.

‘Everybody is really excited about it,’ Dupont said. ‘Even the guys who are not racing are pumped up about it, so it is going to be a great atmosphere. This is just huge.’

While the men and women are certainly having fun with Nationals, the immensity of the meet is not lost on them.

Each team hopes to finish in the top 10 and have anywhere from five to seven runners finish in the top 50. A top 40 individual finish would earn the runner the title of an All American, something everyone has their sights on.

To accomplish these lofty goals, SU runners are doing everything in their power to prepare themselves.

‘I think I spent the most I ever have on groceries,’ Busby said. ‘I always eat healthy, but every single thing I put into my body this week I am thinking about. I also have been catching up on sleep and just do anything I can to make me feel great on race day.’

Last season the Nationals experience was very different for Busby. Accompanied by Brad Miller, the two were the only male representatives to run for SU in Terre Haute.

Busby was ‘a bit lonely’ last year and as a senior, wants to make sure his last campaign is a successful one.

‘It is just awesome, I am really glad we made it this year and didn’t put it off one more year,’ Busby said. ‘It is definitely bigger than any other race I have ever run at college and I am going to make sure I prepare for it as much as anything I have ever done.’

He is not the only one happy the entire men’s squad will run this year.

Though the women have one year of national experience under their belts, this time around things are very different. Last season, the team barely snuck into Nationals and was just happy to be there.

After the success they have had all year long, the women go into this meet a very different team with very different goals and some very important company.

‘It is awesome to have the boys and girls both racing this year, especially because we have the same target range and we get along so well,’ junior Katie Hursey said. ‘This year is just completely different and a whole new atmosphere. We have a lot more drive this year and a lot more support.’

Along with the facial hair and the large Orange presence, high expectations will be in Terre Haute, as well.

‘We would be ecstatic if both teams could pull off a top 10 finish,’ Fox said. ‘But having both teams there really just feels good. It puts us in the upper echelon, so we can strut around a little bit.’

restern@syr.edu