Although they’re teammates, Claire Green and Addi Zerrener are always competing.
That’s the nature of a sport where team and individual competition are one and the same.
“We are at each other’s throats, one minute, and then we love each other the next,” Zerrenner said. We’re so similar and so different, but I feel so blessed to have her as a teammate and a best friend.”
The Arizona Wildcats standouts will go at it again Friday.
The UA is hosting the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships at Randolph North Golf Course. The women’s 3.7-mile race begins at 9:30 a.m., with the men’s 4.9-mile race to follow at 10:30 a.m.
The Wildcats ran Randolph North earlier this season at the Dave Murray Invitational. Traditionally, however, the south course has been used for cross country events.
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Coach James Li describes Randolph North as a fast, flat surface.
Green, a junior, said she can’t wait to run it.
“It’s probably one of the most exciting things I’ve gotten to do as an Arizona Wildcat,” Green said. “As far as cross country, the Pac-12 is about as good as it gets. When you think about all the talent and competition we have in our conference, and the fact that we get to host that meet here at home, it’s really exciting.”
Green and Zerrenner describe each other as competitors on the course and sisters when it’s not race time.
Zerrenner, a redshirt sophomore, started off the season on a high note in September at the George Kyte Classic at Northern Arizona University. She won the 2.6-mile race in 14 minutes 53.8 seconds.
Even with the early season win, Zerrenner said she is ready to improve on what she’s described as a subpar season.
“I’m feeling so ready for Pac-12’s,” Zerrenner said. “It’s the first meet of the championship part of the season, so I’m looking to capitalize on that.”
Green starred at the Dave Murray Invitational later that month, finishing the 2.48- mile run in 13:43.5 and leading her team to victory. Zerrenner, struggling with dehydration, finished third in 14:03.4.
“Every time we step on the line, she’s trying to beat me, I’m trying to beat her,” Green said. “Once it comes to that last k and a half, it’s pretty much whose got it on whatever day.”
Green said she usually has a quicker start than Zerrenner, but Zerrenner usually picks her pace up later in the race.
After all they are on the same team, and they use their opposing strategies to help keep each other in front of the other teams.
They’ll need to work together during Friday’s race to fight off the fierce Pac-12 competition. Li knows his team will face its challenges competing against some of the best runners in the country, but thinks the Wildcats can do well.
“I definitely see Addi and Claire as the leaders of the team,” Li said. “I’m just really impressed by their improvement this year.”
