Run home changed course of Press' career

Sometimes you have to go away first to appreciate home.

Andrew Press was on a state championship cross country team at Webb School in 2003. When it was time for college, he compared a list of excellent academic institutions with a list of cross country programs. William & Mary in Virginia was the winner.

After three unfulfilled years, he transferred to Tennessee in 2007. Good move.

"In hindsight,'' Press said this week, "I might have transferred back a little sooner. I was never entirely happy (at William & Mary).

"I'm glad I came back.''

UT coach George Watts is glad he came back as well. Press was the Vols' lead runner in all but one meet in 2007.

The Vols begin a new season today in the Tennessee Invitational meet at Lambert Acres Golf Course in Maryville. The men's 8,000-meter race begins at 6:15 p.m.

Press, a senior, and sophomore Mike Spooner appear to be the likely pace-setters.

"I think it's going to be harder to be the number-one guy this year," Press said. "Mike has really made some big strides over the summer."

Press had quit making strides by the time his tenure at William & Mary ended. Neither school nor running was satisfying.

The intense approach to training took a toll. Press found himself stale overtrained.

"It ceased to be fun,'' he said. "My body couldn't handle it. I stopped loving the thing I love to do.''

He was nervous about transferring and fitting in with a new environment, even though he was familiar with several of his new teammates.

Any anxiety was soon dispelled. He ran second in his UT debut and was first the rest of the season.

"That was kind of a shock,'' Press said.

If not shocked, Watts was at least pleasantly surprised

"I remembered his name,'' Watts said. "He wasn't someone who was outstanding in high school but he was a good Knoxville-type runner.

"So he really surprised me. He was our most valuable runner.''

Watts hopes Spooner will push Press for that distinction this year.

As a freshman Spooner never had an adequate training base due to injuries. That's no longer the case.

"He's running way above where he was last year,'' Watts said.

Eight of the top 10 from last year are back, including All-SEC pick Steve Tobin. Watts expects true freshmen Ryan Beabout (Wheeling, W.Va.) and Chris Bodary (Downington, Pa.) to get in the mix sooner or later.

Press is looking forward to a better team result in his final season.

He's also casting an eye toward medical school. Transferring to UT also revived his GPA. He's flirted with a 4.0 in microbiology since his return.

"I was just kind of floating through at William & Mary,'' Press said. "I knew I really needed to improve if I was going to have a shot at what I wanted to do in life.''

Bowman Debuts: UT headlines the 5,000 women's race at 5:30. The Lady Vols finished second in the Belmont Invitational but today coach J.J. Clark brings senior Sarah Bowman into the mix.

"There's no pressure or expectations on anybody at this point,'' Clark said. "We'll put Sarah in this week, add some more in the coming weeks and just continue to develop.''