The women's cross-country team finished third overall, right behind winner Williams College and runner- up Middlebury College, and ahead of Hamilton College. Hamilton College's Maggie Hanson won the overall individual title with a time of 15:25.
"I think we worked very well as a team together, which was our goal," said Erinn White '04.
The precocious Carter Hamill '05 finished 10th overall, with a time of 18:30, to pace the Jeffs once again this season. She was followed right behind by Martha Nelson '03, who had a strong time of 18:42 to finish 13th overall. Hamill and Nelson received All-NESCAC honors for their efforts.
Becca Woo '02 continued her strong and consistent season, running a time of 18:59, good enough for 20th place. Aparna Nancherla '04 was also impressive, finishing 23rd with a time of 19:01. Diana Rancourt '02, who pulled 19:18, was good enough for 32nd. Co-captain Molly Burnett '02 and White round out the top finishers.
"[Hamill's] been amazing. She's been a real asset. She's just been running so consistently this season," White said.
Head Coach Erik Nedeau had only praise for the men's team. "As I seem to say each week, the guys come to the line on race day and give everything that they have. They are running to their ability each and every week, and as a team, " he said. This team mentality has been especially crucial since star runner Mike Page '04 abruptly decided to take some time off from Amherst last week.
Matt Katz '05 shone in the spectator-packed final 800 meters and out-kicked a number of runners to finish 24th overall with a time of 26:12. Despite a fall late in the race, John Stanton-Geddes '04 pulled out his best race of the season, finishing 25th and only a second behind Katz. "[Stanton-Geddes] ran a great race-he put himself into position to have a great race right from the gun, and, had he not taken a nasty fall in the last half mile, I have no doubt that he would have been in the top 20 finishers," added Nedeau. Stanton-Geddes added his own words of wisdom about the situation. "Overall, it was my best race of the season," he said. "And if I hadn't fallen, I would have been very happy with it."
Co-captain Ben Kozyak '02 finished 36th with a time 26:31, while Zeke Phillips '05 was only seconds behind, finishing 49th overall. Jack Morgan '05 quickly followed with a 54th-place finish in one of his only races this injury-plagued season. Carson Taylor '03 also ran a strong race, finishing 57th in 27:02. Co-captain Rusty Ryan '02 rounded out the varsity seven with a 68th-place finish.
Next weekend, both the men and the women will race at the ECAC championships at Williams College.