Team hopes to step up performance

For many teams, there comes a point during a season when they either step up or stay at their current pace. Following their fifth place finish at the Notre Dame Invitational, coach Judy Wilson said it is definitely time for the women's cross country team to step it up.\n"Our top three or four runners need to step it up," Wilson said. "The good thing is that we were in the top five (at the Notre Dame Invitational), but it wasn't a stellar performance. The exciting part is that we're capable of a lot more when we have everyone on all cylinders." \nSophomore Mindy Peterson took her coaches sentiments to heart and is looking to do something about it, she said. \n"We are not satisfied, but are encouraged by the prospect of stepping it up," she said. "I plan on stepping it up by running right with Audrey (Giesler) and not allowing myself to drift back in the middle of the race." \nOne quality the Hoosiers have on their side in their attempt to step it up is potential with three underclassmen in their top five. The team has a "Fab Five" of juniors Giesler and Becky Obrecht, Peterson and freshmen Jessica Gall and Lindsay Hattendorf. \nGiesler said in order for the team to reach their goals they are going to have to heed Wilson's advice.\n"I think everyone on the team is in a position to step it up," Giesler said. "As a whole, no one really raced to their potential (at Notre Dame), and we're going to chalk it up to a mediocre performance to improve upon at Pre-NCAAs."\nLast year, the Hoosiers were in a similar situation. In last year's Notre Dame Invitational the team said it did not race to their potential. But, Giesler said there is one major difference between last year and this year: confidence. Giesler said the Hoosiers have the confident mentality to take it to the next level. \n"My mentality going into this season was completely different from any cross country meet I ran in last year," Giesler said. "I think we have transitioned from a team with hopes and aspirations to a team with realistic expectations"