Sacramento State cross country finally has a course they can officially call their home.

Nestled behind the William R. Ridgeway family relations courthouse on Power Inn Road in the Granite Regional Park, the new cross country course will be the site for this Saturday’s 2005 Sac State Open.

“The course bridges the community, city, university and Separovich/Domich Development Company together for a common cause of promoting cross country,” head coach Rodney Rothoff said. “It is a huge step.”

Senior runner Virginia Grillo said she wishes she could have had the course for her entire four years with the team but is grateful to have it for at least this season.

“I like the course a lot, it has a lot of potential,” Grillo said. “This is a cross country course, it’s awesome.”

Freshman Colin Szehner said the course is really nice and has a fast surface.

“It’s a pretty course to have as our own,” Szehner said.

One of the advantages of having the new course is the team has been able to practice on it and get a feel for the course.

“Anytime you are able to get out on a course before a meet, it’s easier for you to strategize and visualize the race,” Grillo said.

The team hopes to christen their new course with a victory in a critical part of their season.

“This is our last tune up before championship season,” Rothoff said. “We’d like to win our home meet; winning is on our minds.”

The men will face off against American River College in their portion of the meet.

Rothoff said that ARC has been the best junior college cross country team in northern California for years.

“Our goal is to beat AR for first place,” Szehner said. “I think we will all try and get personal records on the new course. We have been training hard and it’s all paying off.”

The women will take on the University of Nevada-Reno, San Jose State and ARC.

“The goal for the meet is to win, put our best numbers out there, let it all loose, run with guts and heart and don’t leave anything behind,” Grillo said.

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Matt Vevoda can be reached at [email protected]