Junior looks to lead team

Junior Chad Andrews knows there's always room for improvement.\nAndrews and the men's cross country team are competing for the Big Ten Championships title this year. \nLast season, Andrews finished 11th in the Big Ten cross country championships and third in the 10,000 meters in the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He looks to be a major factor in IU's hopes this season because of last year's success.\nDuring his freshman year, he finished 34th in the Big Ten Championships. Last season's improvement happened for several reasons. His body is now able to handle the mileage run better at the collegiate level, head coach Robert Chapman said. \n"With Chad, he has the confidence to know that when he's fit, he's going to run well. If he's not fit, he laces up his shoes every day and keeps cranking until he gets there," Chapman said. \nWhen he started his collegiate career, his mileage was 50 to 60 miles a week. Now, Andrews has increased it to an average of 90 a week. \nHe is not the only one putting in this many miles, Andrew said.\n"Having great training groups helps out," he said. "The training groups are all out working hard."\nThis team's depth allows for practices where athletes are working hard and pushing each other to do better. Last season's success by Andrews increased his confidence as well, he said. \n"Training hard and stuff is going to boost the confidence but finishing high in a big meet is going to do more," Andrews said. \nThe hard work hasn't gone unnoticed.\n"In a big meet, you can count on him," freshman Kurtis George said. George knows Andrews well. They are cousins and grew up only a few miles apart. George competed against his cousin almost every week in high school. Now, they compete together in an attempt to win the Big Ten Championships. \n"Chad also has a great ability to roll in big meets. He's been able to find a way to peak at the right time, which is so crucial in our sport," Chapman said.\n"(Chad is) pretty quiet, but he leads by example," George said. \nAndrews' leadership will focus more on the team, rather than individual runners. The Hoosiers will focus on the opponent's top runners on a team-by-team basis, athletes said. \nBesides the hard work Andrews puts in at practice every week, he continues to do well in school. He is a secondary education/social studies major. He said when he graduates, he wants to find a job teaching high school students some type of social studies. \nHe said he also looks forward to coaching cross country and track. Andrews said there are some parallels between school and cross country. \n"Dedication and working hard will help you get what you want," Andrews said.