Syracuse rests up in anticipation of ACC championships

Rest, recover, rejuvenate.

That seems to be the motto for Syracuse as it heads into the last few days before its first appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference championships, which will be hosted by Wake Forest in Kernersville, N.C., this coming Friday.

With runners racing individually and no team score registered at the John Reif Memorial Race in Ithaca, N.Y., last Friday, it gave members of the Orange a chance to showcase their individual talents as they vie for the last two spots on the postseason roster. The team’s top runners, such as Martin Hehir, Griff Graves and Reed Kamyszek, had the week off in order to rest and allow some younger runners to have the spotlight.

“There are some guys that are trying to get some rust off to get ready for the championship season,” assistant coach Adam Smith said.

Redshirt freshman Kevyn Hoyos won the race and redshirt sophomores Andrew Bennison and Juris Silenieks placed second and fourth, respectively.

Heading into the postseason races, the structured, rigorous training that the Orange has done all season will carry SU through a week of lighter work.

“Let the training you’ve done absorb and just rest,” redshirt junior Andrew Palmer said.

This method will help rejuvenate the Orange before it travels to Winston Salem as the top-ranked team in the ACC and No. 14 nationally.

Silenieks also referenced the importance of resting and pacing in practice in preparation for a meet, one that will be the biggest race of the season so far. Throughout the year, many runners have emphasized the importance of structuring workouts based on how many days are left until a race in order to better rest the body.

Last year at the 2012 Big East championships, Hehir finished first overall as a freshman in 24:37.20, less than one second ahead of runner-up Shane Quinn of Providence. Other top-10 finishers for Syracuse at the event are all current runners, including redshirt senior Joe Whelan, junior Ryan Urie and redshirt junior Reed Kamyszek.

Until Friday, it will be an easygoing week for the Orange before its ACC tournament debut.

“We’re looking forward to ACCs,” Smith said, “and then regionals and nationals are in a few weeks.”

Clearly, the Orange is primed and ready for the postseason to begin as it embarks on its quest for a second consecutive conference title.