Because the ECACs are traditionally used as a tune-up meet before the NCAA national qualifier race, which will be held next weekend, the top four Amherst women were given the weekend off to rest their legs. Despite the small group, the women managed to fill five spots in the top 15. Martha Nelson '03 led the pack in fifth place, followed by Aparna Nancherla '04 in sixth, Co-captain Molly Burnett '02 in eighth, Erinn White '04 in eleventh and Sarah Degraaf '05 in fifteenth place.
Degraaf enjoyed an especially strong day, finishing with All-ECAC honors despite being asked to fill in at the last minute for Alison Dimon '03, who stayed at home nursing an injury.
Nancherla continued her string of impressive races, dropping over a minute off her time since the beginning of the season. "I enjoy running fast at this time of year," said Nancherla.
Burnett looked like she was finding her form again after a tough mid-season injury that kept her in the pool and off the trail for much of the fall.
The momentum from this first-place victory should carry on well into next weekend, when the full varsity squad races in the New England Regional. The women are favored to qualify for nationals for the second straight year, led by a determined group of four seniors: Becca Woo, Emily Lobsenz, Diana Rancourt and Burnett, as well as rookie Carter Hamill '05.
The men's team seemed to hit a small bump in the road at the ECAC Championships, but did not let that stop them. The men finished second to Keene State College in the tournament of 28 teams. "As a team, they have raced great each weekend, and this one was a little off," said Head Coach Erik Nedeau. "But the men have been on fire each time out, so maybe we were a little overdue for an off race."
Matt Katz '05 seemed far from tired during the five-mile competition. "Matt had his best race of the year," said Nedeau. "Hopefully he gained a lot of confidence from his race-went after it from the gun and raced up at the front the entire time." Katz finished third overall in 26:46. "Matt decided to take it out early this week, and it worked," said Co-captain Ben Kozyak. "He finished third and looked good doing it."
Kozyak enjoyed a stellar race of his own, finishing ninth overall with a time of 27:14. "It was the best cross-country race of my life. I felt fast and more or less under control the whole way," said Kozyak. Carson Taylor '03 also had one of the best races of his season crossing the line 17th overall and third for the Jeffs.
John Stanton-Geddes '04 finished 25th overall, while Jack Morgan '05 came in only seconds behind with a 31st place finish. Co-captain Rusty Ryan '02 and Zeke Phillips '05 rounded out the varsity seven with 44th and 58th place finishes.
Shaking off the mixed results of this week, Kozyak expects the team to do well at NCAA regionals. People respond to the taper in different ways, and some were still feeling a little leg-weary on Saturday," said Kozyak.
"I have no doubt that both the men and women will be ready to shine in NCAA regionals at Westfield State this weekend. We've had an awesome season so far and it should be a great race for us."