"It was a chance for the first-years to get a feel for a college race, but also a chance for everyone on the team to shake out their legs and get ready for the season," said Kim Partee '08. This Saturday's race is an indication that both squads are ready to take on the toughest competition this season.
Women
When co-captain Shauneen Garrahan '07 emerged over the last hill and onto the finishing stretch, not another runner was in sight. Over 35 seconds later, the next runner to cross the finish line may have been from Springfield College, but the pack of runners close on her heels was almost entirely dominated by Jeffs. Partee, Elise Tropiano '09, Katie Moravec '08 and co-captain Heather Wilson '08 were at the front of the pack, grabbing third through sixth places, respectively.
The consistent flood of purple and white through the finish line did not stop there, however, as Meg Ray '08 and Laura Mortimer '08 grabbed eighth and 10th place, respectively, while Liz Dalton '09, Zandra Walton '09, Nicole Anderson '09, Sophia Galleher '10, Caitlin McDermott-Murphy '09 and Rachel Cameron '10 finished in close succession of one another to place comfortably within the top 20 of the race.
"Though times were a little slow due to the informality of the meet and the heat of the day, the team [members were] overall pleased with their performances," said Partee. The intentionally non-competitive mindset that the Jeffs took into the race certainly did not hinder their ability to transition back into competitive racing.
"Some individuals have come back particularly strong and it will be great to see everyone's progression continue in the coming weeks," added Partee. With so many runners showing such great promise already, this season will no doubt be thrilling for the entire team.
Men
The men were an intimidating sight at the start line, with as many Jeff harriers lined up as the number on the other teams combined. And the men proved that they were definitely not all bark with no bite by the end of the race when they swept eight of the first ten places.
Harrison Lakehomer '09 set the pace on the 8,000-meter course, cruising through the finish line at 27:28. Mike Harbus '08 was the runner-up, and only one non-Jeff squeezed in front of the intimidating pack of co-captain Cooper Knowlton '07, Peter Foote '09, Nathaniel Freese '07 and co-captain Richard Wilson '07. A mix of new and old Jeff faces-Carlyle Eubank '10, Robert Boley '07, Jimmy Swanson '10 and John Babbott '07-were not far behind in ninth through 12th places, respectively.Also finishing in the top 20 for the Jeffs were a trio of first-years-Eric Holaday, Daniel Murner and William Bell-and junior Romula Cabeza.
"The race displayed our strength up front and our depth," said Wilson. "It was a great low-pressure introduction for the [first-years], but it also prepares us well for the big expectations we have for the rest of the season." With so many experienced runners and a large crop of first-years adjusting well to collegiate running, as evidenced by Saturday's strong showing, the Jeffs have justifiably high expectations for the bigger meets this season.
The team's usual front runner, Tomas Morrissey '08, did not run this weekend as he was tending to a minor injury, but he will be ready to go in the more important championship meets later in the season.
The Jeffs will travel to the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 16 where they expect to dominate the faster course and larger field of competitors.
NESCAC Notes
In the national Div. III pre-season poll released by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association on Sept. 5, Williams College's women's team is ranked fourth, below the Jeffs at third. Colby College is ranked eighth. For the men, Williams was the only NESCAC team in the top ten, at seventh place. The Ephs participated in the non-scoring Coed Relays at Middlebury last weekend, and will commence their regular scoring season at the McGill University Invitational this Saturday.