BEEP TEST
Ah, the dreaded beep test. Today's session at Greenbelt Sportsplex included the infamous fitness test for the entire squad. The beep test is often used by teams at the start of pre-season to gauge each athlete's fitness level coming into camp. Today's examination saw four players in particular separate themselves from the pack, as Devon McTavish, Jed Zayner, Perry Kitchen and Stephen King were the last men standing. Kitchen and King battled it out in the end, with King narrowly defeating the 18-year old rookie in the conditioning exercise. In addition to the beep test, the team also did some light ball work at the indoor facilitiy in Glen Dale, MD.
McCARTY, NGWENYA SET FOR FRIDAY ARRIVAL
Ahead of Monday's departure for the warm weather of Ft. Lauderdale, Dax McCarty and Joseph Ngwenya are set to arrive in DC on Friday. McCarty was enjoying a few days off following his three-week stint with the U.S. Men's National Team and is fresh off captaining the side to a 1-1 draw versus Chile in Carson, CA last Saturday. Ngwenya will arrive from his native Zimbabwe after sorting out moving details in his home country. Both players will join the rest of the team for a short session at RFK Stadium on Saturday ahead of Monday's travel day.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
Get ready to set your DVRs, as there will be a number of D.C. United media appearances beginning this evening.
- Today, Channels 4 (NBC), 7 (ABC) 9 (CBS), and Comcast SportsNet were in attendance at today's training session to talk the team about the start of pre-season. Tune-in to their respective news shows this evening hear all the latest.
- UPDATE (4:30pm): Due to today's weather, Olsen's NBC-4 appearance has been postponed. We'll let you know when they re-schedule to have him on.Head Coach Ben Olsen will be live in the NBC-4 studios this evening at 5:45pm to discuss his role as the team's Head Coach and all things United.
- On Thursday, rookie Perry Kitchen will join host Ivan Carter on Comcast SportsNet's Washington Post Live to discuss his first week as a professional and being drafted by the most successful club in MLS history. Washington Post Live airs from 5-6pm.
- Also on Thursday, Dax McCarty will speak with Extra Time Radio about his time with the U.S. National Team and joining his new club. Extra Time Radio is available via podcast and can be listened to or downloaded via MLSsoccer.com Thursday evening around 5pm.
