Friday links to pass along...

We start the Friday quick links with a story from the University of Washington on its first day of cross country practice with its teams, featuring the number one women's recruiting class in the country, including heralded frosh Megan Goethals and Katie Flood.

The first day of practice gives the coaching staff a chance to gauge how the athletes have improved their strength and fitness over the summer. The biggest leap for many runners often comes between the first and second years, as they've learned what it takes to compete at the Division-I level.

"It's fun watching the kids that were freshmen last year come back and they're much better at doing our circuit, doing the hurdle drills, they've become more proficient. Then seeing closer to the finished product in the juniors and seniors who have it figured out," said Husky head cross country coach Greg Metcalf. "I think we've got a good group of young people, we are pretty healthy, so there's a lot of excitement to see what the next 12 weeks holds."

The Huskies open their season September 3rd with a dual meet against cross state rival Washington State in Ephrata at 5 pm. Metcalf stated at the pre-season media gathering earlier in the week that he would not run his heralded freshmen against the Cougars.

You can read the rest of the story here.

The next link is from the Orange County Register, as former University of Washington runner Scott Reid writes a tribute on stat guru and track announcer Scott Davis, who passed away last week.

Reid writes,"He also knew no equal as a meet announcer, Davis’ infectious enthusiasm echoing through track and field stadiums from Seville to Osaka to Eugene back to Westwood as he provided the sport’s soundtrack for more than a quarter-century.

"'That passion is what made him the best announcer, I think, in the world,'said Tom Jordan, the longtime meet director of Eugene’s Prefontaine Classic, this country’s premier track event."

You can read the rest of the story here.

NOTE: Above photo of UW men's cross country team running up Husky Stadium stairs courtesy University of Washington.