It is a time of mixed emotions for the Michigan women's cross country team.
The Wolverines are disappointed to have run below expectations in their last two meets. However, they are looking forward to a chance at ultimate redemption if they pull off strong performances in the final, important meets of the season.
The first of those meets is this Saturday in Bloomington at the Big Ten Championships.
Despite a recent upset loss to Eastern Michigan and a fifth-place finish at the Michigan Interregional Invitational, the Wolverines are upbeat about their prospects against stiff conference competition this weekend.
Nationally-ranked Wisconsin and Penn State look to place highly on Saturday, and Michigan plans on being right there with them.
"I don't think there are any teams that are out of our (reach)," senior captain Jen Barber said. "Wisconsin and Penn State are definitely the teams to beat, but we can compete with them."
Ironically, the Wolverines believe they may actually have an advantage over the league competition because of their poor performances in the past two meets.
"We're in a good position," Barber said. "We're the underdog and are not going to be the big target (of other teams) like in years past. People are discounting us a little bit. That could be a big advantage."
Freshman Elizabeth Kampfe, who has been one of Michigan's most consistent runners this year, said that she does not agree with the Wolverines' underdog label. Instead, Michigan is out to prove that it is one of the best teams in the league.
"Other teams in the Big Ten may see us as an underdog, but we still are going into the Big Tens feeling that we can compete with the other teams and at least finish in the top two," she said.
To place highly on Saturday, Michigan will have to perform better than it has in the past few races.
Kampfe said that she has already seen the necessary improvement in practice.
"We are starting to run better in workouts," she said. "We're starting to run as a team and become (unified)."
To Barber, running well as a team is exactly what the Wolverines must do to be successful this weekend.
"We've always had a good pack of runners (in meets), but it hasn't been in the right place," she said. "We could turn it into a positive thing."
To move their pack to the front of a race as important as the Big Ten Championships, the Wolverines must be mentally as well as physically prepared. Mental preparation, however, is different for each runner.
"It's really exciting (getting ready for the Big Tens)," Barber said. "It is my last year running in it and I have absolutely nothing to lose."
While Barber is enthusiastic about the upcoming race, Kampfe, who is competing in her first Big Tens, is taking a more low-key approach into Bloomington.
"I'm taking it no differently than any other meet," Kampfe said.
After this weekend, the Wolverines have two weeks until the district championships, which will determine if Michigan makes the national championships on Nov. 25.
This makes the importance of Saturday's race twofold. The prestige and satisfaction of winning the Big Ten is at stake, and the Wolverines can also gain momentum for the districts.
"If we have a good race on Saturday, it will only help our confidence going into the districts," Barber said.
DAMIAN PETRESCU/Daily
The Michigan women's cross country team has been running ragged lately.