"I told the guys we win as a team, we lose as a team," said Plasencia. "As you probably know, I score out the meets(predict the point totals prior to and during the event). I didn't have any illusions about Iowa. I had them beating us by much more than they did."
Plasencia knew the Gophers would score big on the first day and the key would be to amass as many points as possible going into the final day, when Iowa's strengths would help them. As with any close win or loss, it's easy to where the team could have scored points that might have made a difference, but races aren't run on paper and the team will have to absorb the lessons learned and use the loss as an incentive for the 2012 Championships.
"We had a pretty average day on the last day," Plasencia said. "Nobody stepped up(and had an unexpectedly good performance). I feel good that we competed well, but I'll use (the loss) as motivation."
The balanced team approach at Minnesota has had its benefits. Plasencia said that they scored points in nearly all the events at the conference meet, and that sort of depth and variety can breed consistency as one isn't dependent upon one segment of the team or single performances, but rather a group effort. And the success of that group has begun to also have benefits.
"We've got a kid coming in, a half miler. who's a state champ from Illinois," said Plasencia. "People there(in other states) are aware of our program. We've been able to expand (the program's stature into other states). They've heard of us. They've seen what we've done. The Big Ten Network(TV channel that broadcasts Big Ten championship events) being there has helped with that."
Most schools recruit primarily from their state, their surrounding area, Plasencia noted, thus "You're dependent on the talent that comes out in your area. You've got to adapt to your environment."
One adaptation that hasn't been successfully bridged as yet is being able to get the talent necessary to win conference titles in track and cross country. "In the world of 12.6 scholarships, it's hard to have a formula that works for all programs," Plasencia said, noting the fact that attracting top talent often requires rewarding that talent.
Track and cross country have a total of just over 12 scholarships to "fund" the top athletes with scholarship money. Some programs will load their program's scholarships into one discipline, says sprints, or field events, or distance. With Minnesota's emphasis on a "balanced" team, attracting top talent in each of the disciplines, that scholarship money is spread thin. "Would you give up a track title to win cross country?" says Plasencia.
Since cross country team totals are determined by the placing of the top five runners, the teams that win championships have to have at the very least five very talented distance runners. Depth wins championships. "To be in the upper results of the Conference meets, you really have to have five guys who (are talented enough) to go to the national meet," Plasencia said. And not go just as members of a team, which Minnesota has done consistently for nearly the last two decades, but also have the ability to place well there as individuals.
If they were a professional sports team, last year's Gopher cross country squad could have been characterized as going through a "rebuilding year," with the depth of the team dependent on underclassmen. Those runners will be a year stronger and wiser this year. Hassan Mead will be back at the front of the pack with a strong supporting cast.
"I'm always excited at the beginning of each season," said Plasencia, "Just to see what can be accomplished."
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