University of Massachusets Athletics
Christina DeRosa Ready For NCAA's
June 10, 2008 | Women's Cross Country
June 10, 2008
Although senior Christina DeRosa has gone home to Sound Beach, N.Y., for the summer, her University of Massachusetts track and field career is not over yet.
DeRosa will compete in the NCAA Women's Track and Field National Championship meet tomorrow through Saturday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
"I had to move out of my place in Amherst, so I've been training here at home with Stony Brook University," DeRosa said. "At first it was tough to get situated, but I think it's helped to have someone faster than me to push me during workouts."
DeRosa qualified for the 10,000 meters with her school-record breaking time of 34:26 on April 4 at the Stanford Invitational and enters this week's national championship seeded 25th of 27th.
"I haven't raced the 10K like that since Stanford," DeRosa said. "It was amazing to break the record."
Though her season has been impressive, DeRosa will face some very stiff competition in Des Moines. No. 1 seed Lisa Koll of Iowa State qualified at 32:11, a full minute ahead of the rest of the field.
"It's going to be a honor to run with these girls," DeRosa said. "It's very intimidating. Some of them have the times to compete in the Olympic trials."
DeRosa also said she will be very weather conscious at nationals after she ran the 5,000 meters last weekend at the NCAA East Regional at Florida State University in hot, humid conditions.
"Coach (Julie) LaFreniere has been telling me just to rest and stay hydrated," DeRosa said. "It really took me a few days after the regionals to rehydrate."
LaFreniere, though, is confident in her runner.
"Christina normally does well in the heat," LaFreniere said. "Keeping her out of the sun is the plan."
Though she qualified for regionals in the 5,000, DeRosa came up short of nationals, placing 21st at Florida State.
"The 5K is too short for her," LaFreniere said. "She is an outstanding athlete and it's really the longer the better for her."
Whatever happens in Des Moines, DeRosa is keeping a positive attitude. "I'm thrilled to go to nationals," she said. "This is the best way I can think of to end my career at UMass."