Cavs host strong field at Panorama

It would have been easy to assume that the gloomy weather in Central Virginia rained on Virginia cross country coach Jason Vigilante’s parade.

It was quite the opposite.

Today, with muddy conditions expected, the Cavaliers men’s and women’s teams will battle the elements as they host the Panorama Farms Invitational in Earlysville.

A dress rehearsal for next week’s ACC championship, the meet could also match the conditions at the national championship in November.

“Every cross country coach loves the opportunity to race in weather like this,” Vigilante said. “It only enhances the experience.

“One of the things about the national meet being the Monday before Thanksgiving is that more likely than not you are going to have weather conditions that aren’t favorable. So it will be a good experience for us to be out here in it.”

Virginia’s women’s team, which is ranked No. 10 in the country, will open the meet at 4 p.m. The field includes seven teams, including No. 2 Villanova and No. 14 Duke.

The men’s race will follow at 4:45 p.m. Ten teams are entered, four of which are ranked nationally (No. 11 Syracuse, No. 15 Virginia, No. 24 Villanova and No. 26 Duke).

“One of the neat things for our program is having the opportunity to host schools with proud history,” Vigilante said. “Tennessee, Villanova, Duke, Texas A&M, Syracuse — there is a lot of history with those programs. They really have excellent teams.

“For us to have them here is just a real treat for us.”

The Cavaliers opened the season with back-to-back meet victories on the men’s and women’s side, but Vigilante will get a better feel for how his team stands nationally.

“There is no doubt that we want to defend our conference men’s title and the women are nationally 10th so perhaps if things line up we will have a shot at competing for that as well,” Vigilante said. “I hope some of the nagging injuries and ailments from hard training have subsided, but I think we have a pretty good squad.”

Following the meet today, a free clinic will be held for children 12 and under. It is slated to start at 5:15 p.m.