Arroyo Prepares for World XC in Poland

  

Colonial senior and UF signee, Andres Arroyo, is currently in snowy Poland. He is preparing for tomorrow's IAAF World Cross Country Junior Championships, representing Puerto Rico at the international championship. While cross country is long over in the United States, it has been going strong in other parts of the world all winter. This marks the end of the 2012-2013 international season.

Arroyo, fresh off his US #1 ranked time of 4:04.45 in the 1600 meters, is excited about his debut in a world level meet of this magnitude.

"This will be my first time running at a world class meet and third time running a 6K," he told flrunners.com, "so my gameplan would depend on my coaches experience... I can't wait to...race against the best of the world, it will be a great experience for sure, and of course me coming from Florida, we don't see snow or ever run on it... so im looking foward to race in the snow for the first time!"

The Orlando native says it's a little bizarre for him to suit back up in the cross country spikes after already running so much on the oval this year, but he feels well prepared.

"I always train hard and give it my all in practices so I would say, training hard and training like if I was running cross again."

He is proud to have another opportunity to represent Puerto Rico, after having done so in a number of smaller international meets in the past including Carribean Scholastic Invitational and NACAC.

"I already have had a chance to represent my country and all I can say is you get the feeling that everyone has your back, you kind of feel you're bringing your people closer and at the same time you have some pressure to motivate you."
 
 
Good luck to Andres tomorrow in Poland!