There's not usually a lot of fun associated with preseason camp in mid-August, but the Mansfield University men's and women's cross-country, field hockey and women's soccer team's took a short break from the repetitive drills and conditioning to rest their sore bodies with a group picnic at Hill's Creek Lake Friday afternoon.

It proved to be a great opportunity for the teams to intermingle, catch up on the summer news and meet the incoming freshmen.

The picnic was the brainchild of the cross-country teams which spent a couple of days camping overnight and training on the trail at nearby Hill's Creek Lake. The cross-country team provided transportation while the food was supplied by Manser Dining Hall.

For most it was the first break of any kind in almost a week of day long drills, conditioning and meetings. Some players went for a swim in the cool lake while others just took a couple of minutes to enjoy the warm sunshine without having to run.

Still others, including All-American runner Chris Cummings, curled up for a short powernap before all returned for evening workouts.

All five Mountaineer fall teams, field hockey, football, men's and women's cross-country and women's soccer will continue preseason camp through the weekend and next week.

The women's soccer team is the first to open the season when they travel to West Chester on Friday, August 25. The soccer team plays three times before cross-country opens its season on Friday evening Sept.1 when they host Misericordia College at 6 p.m. at the Lamb's Creek site.

Field Hockey opens the season with a three-game trip to New England where they take on Stonehill College on Sept. 2 in the season opener. Football doesn't open it's official season until Saturday, Sept. 9, when they host Shippensburg University in the Josh Palmer Classic at Karl Van Norman Field. The team will scrimmage at Lycoming on Saturday, Sept. 2.

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