Chris Fox

November 11, 2013 - 12:30pm
The Orange came into the year young and leaderless, but SU fought its way to becoming a nice surprise in the ACC.

All year, head coach Chris Fox has been saying it would come down to peaking at the right time. It’s the reality of the cross country season, really — a couple of meets early in the year to earn points toward nationals, but everything culminating with a two-week span in November when the ACC and Northeast regional meets come around. The weeks and races rolled by, and Fox kept preaching: improvement.

“We’re really just worried about getting our work in and getting better,” he said after the Roy Griak Invitational in September.

November 3, 2013 - 2:31pm
The men won its second straight conference championship and the young women's team placed third.

Different conference, same result for the Syracuse men’s cross country team. 

The No. 14 Orange won its second consecutive conference championship Friday, winning the ACC title in Kernersville, N.C., after winning the Big East championship in its final year in the conference last season.

October 29, 2013 - 4:49pm
With loss of one of the best runners in Big East history last season, senior Alexandra Clinton has become an leader on the team who guides by example.

Alexandra Clinton never thought about being a leader, not until this year started, at least. Clinton, who runs cross country for Syracuse University, is one of only three seniors on the women’s team this season.

The need for leadership of this young team was heightened after the graduation of Sarah Pagano — one of the most decorated female runners in Big East history.

Clinton is trying to pick up that slack, but she said it is all a bit weird.

October 16, 2013 - 12:19pm
After struggling with the loss of many of last year's top runners, the men's and women's cross country team think they can rebound in 2013, starting with the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational.

Alexandra Clinton hasn’t sat still over the course of six questions. She shifts her weight, adjusts her legs, glances around the room with an unmistakable defiance. But then the subject shifts to the future, to this year and this team, and suddenly she’s at ease.

“I’m a senior, so I might not be around to see it, but this group of girls will be special,” Clinton said. “We’re mature, we know how to race now.”

February 9, 2012 - 1:57pm
Senior SU distance runner Griff Graves is waiting for his chance to return to the track.

Everybody who runs does so with a purpose.  For some, that purpose may be to get in or stay in shape. For some, it may be for the ultimate enjoyment of playing another sport. But for others, it may be for the enjoyment of the run itself.  For many, there may be multiple purposes.

For Griff Graves, a senior distance runner on the track and field team, that purpose is singular: “Winning,” Graves said.  And no, Griff Graves is not a pseudonym for Charlie Sheen.