Women
While it will be a challenge to top last year's fifth-place finish at the NCAA Div. III Outdoor Championships, the women definitely have the potential to be among the best teams in New England. "Our size and depth are not that of Williams [College] and Tufts [University], who will certainly dominate again, but I feel that we should be strong behind them," Nedeau said. Under the leadership of senior -captains Ginger triPolich, Krissy Morin, and Julia Rucker, the women are prepared to make this yet another stellar season.
With many of the same runners returning from the indoor season, the women will look to keep up the momentum. In particular, the distance medley relay (DMR) team of Polich, Shauneen Garrahan '07 and rookies Caitlin McDermott-Murphy and Zandra Walton will look to improve on their indoor results. The relay team placed ninth at last weekend's NCAA Div. III Championships. Although it was an overall strong race, they fell a bit short of their expectations. "Not every race goes as well as one would hope, but you gain experience from it and as we head into the outdoor season, the DMR team will be much stronger and looking for a little redemption," Nedeau said.
Garrahan, who garnered her first NCAA title in the steeplechase last outdoor season, will hope to return to full strength after an unhealthy indoor season. "It will be great to have Shauneen back in full health, as she is one of the best runners in the country and has been sorely missed this winter," said Nedeau.
Another veteran distance runner, Heather Wilson '08 has had impressive cross country and indoor track seasons this year and she shows no signs of slowing down as she gets ready to hit the outdoor track. In addition, several first-year distance runners-including NESCAC cross country Rookie of the Year Nicole Anderson-now have the benefit of two seasons of collegiate running under their belts, and will be joining the women's outdoor team.
Men
The men return several experienced runners from the indoor team, and the addition of a few seasonal harriers will strengthen the team even more.
At the heart of the team will be a strong core of veteran middle- and long-distance runners. Tri-captain Sam Hayman '07 will be leading the middle-distance group of John Babbott '07, Romula Cabeza '08, Basile Beaty '08 and rookies Steve Stewart and Jack Kiley. In the distance events, Tomas Morrisey '08, Dave Schreiner '06 and Mike Harbus '08 are likely to make a big impact for the team.
Leading the sprinters is senior tri-captain Tim Porter. The Jeffs will welcome the return of Jon Ettinger '07, who missed the indoor season because he spent last semester studying abroad.
The lone thrower on the roster, tri-captain Nick Canevari '06 aims to improve on his outstanding performances in the discus and javelin events.
Both teams start their seasons with the Bantam Invitational hosted by Trinity College on Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. If Mother Nature is agreeable this spring, this should prove to be an especially exciting season for both squads.
NESCAC Notes
Perennial track and field powerhouse Williams College should dominate the NESCAC again this season. The female Ephs placed second at last weekend's NCAA Div. III Indoor Championships. During the 2005 outdoor season, the women took home the NESCAC Championship crown for the fifth year in a row, and added a seventh place finish at NCAAs to their long list of accomplishments. The men from Williams also managed to win the NESCAC Championships last year. Williams has a lot of breadth as well as depth in many events, giving the Ephs a distinct advantage. Placing second and third at both the men's and women's 2005 NES-
CAC Championships were the athletes of Tufts University and Middlebury College, respectively. These NESCAC powerhouses will be back in full force.