SARAH SCHREFF/Photo Editor
DAVID NAKAGAMI
Assistant Sports Editor
The annual Pepperdine Invitational hosted in Alumni Park on Saturday was dubbed one of the largest running competitions of its kind. The meet welcomed 12 college and 87 high school cross country teams, with an astounding total of about 3,000 participants, according to Associate Athletic Director David Rhoades.
Advertised as “the most beautiful cross country course in the nation,” by DyeStatCal.com, the “Internet home of California track,” the event went off without a hitch, aside from uncooperative weather.
The planning for a meet of this magnitude began when Robert Radnoti, the second-year head coach of the cross country teams, stepped onto Pepperdine’s campus.
“I looked at Alumni Park and thought, ‘what a great place to run,’” he said. “And then, when we were able to move it into the park our first time, right after that I started asking the questions ‘Can I grow this? Can I make this better?’”
The preparation began with meetings involving Rhoades and the Athletic Department.
“It was our cross country coach’s dream to put this together,” Rhoades said.
With the full approval and support of the university and the Athletic Department, Radnoti expanded what was once a three or four college-team race around the track and Dorm Road into the extravaganza in Alumni Park that was on display last weekend.
Getting the word out about the event was quite simple.
“We paid $150 for this little box on DyeStatCal.com, and that was it,” Radnoti said. “That was our advertising. $150 for that little thing and people clicked on it and wanted to come.”
The response was overwhelming. The slots for the Invitational filled up quickly, leaving more than 50 teams on the waiting list after the entries were closed.
Aside from attracting a larger field of teams than previous years, Radnoti had several other goals in mind.
“One of the big things is that we wanted to create another vehicle to put Pepperdine on the map, California-wise and really nationally,” he said. “That we have a cross country program and we’re going to create something very special here.”
The accomplishment of this mission was verified by the influx of e-mails flooding his inbox from prospective Pepperdine runners from all over the nation.
“It’s a huge recruiting tool,” Radnoti admits. “You look on DyetStatCal.com right now, and the headline is our meet. This is the only place that every high school cross country runner in the nation goes to.”
Also, Radnoti felt that the Invitational would be the perfect opportunity to make a case for cross country as a revenue-generating sport.
“We believe it’s very sellable for future sponsorships,” he said. “It’s a tremendous opportunities for bringing in money to our cross country program.”
The torrential rainfall may have dampened the course and participants, but Radnoti remained as upbeat as ever.
“Athletes, spectators, and coaches from colleges and high schools said it was one of the best events and courses they’ve ever run, so we met a lot of different goals,” Radnoti said.
Rhoades said he saw the meet as an overall success.
“The feedback that we have received from most of the participating schools has just been nothing put positive,” he said.
The head coach said he could not agree more. Radnoti could not be happier for the Invitational’s results – for his teams, the university and the sport.
“It is the most beautiful course in the nation, and we are very proud of that,” Radnoti said. “Like baseball is the best baseball stadium in the nation, and Pepperdine is the most beautiful college in the nation, we wanted to make sure that cross country is right there and doing our part to be part of the Pepperdine experience.”
09-27-2007
