As soon as the members of the men's and women's cross country teams crossed the finish line of the 2006 season, their goals for 2007 were in sight. Though both squads had spectacular results last year, the Jeffs are determined to be even better.

Women

The women's cross country team does not have much room for improvement. The Jeffs finished first or second in every meet last year, winning their first ever NESCAC title, as well as the Little Three and ECAC Championships. The Jeffs also posted the best finishes in school history when they took second to Div. I Boston University at the Open New England Championships, qualified for Nationals with a second-place finish at New England Regionals, and then fell just one point shy of the Div. III National Championship.

Since the Jeffs were nearly perfect in their 2006 campaign, it is easy to focus on the second-place finishes. And that is what the Amherst women are using as motivation for the 2007 season.

"Last year's showing at Nationals was simultaneously wonderful and heartbreaking," said senior Meg Ray, "but it gave the seven girls who raced a taste of victory, and left us wanting more."

The Jeffs have set their sights on winning the National Championship, but they also aim to dominate in every meet. "It was certainly heartbreaking last year to lose [in Nationals] by only one point. It is certainly a huge motivator in training," said junior Elise Tropiano. "But, it is also important to take it one meet at a time. You can't get ahead of yourself. We have to focus on each meet and assume that nothing will be simply given to us. We have to perform at each meet especially the big ones like NESCACs, Open New Englands, and Regionals. We have to focus on the journey as much as the destination."

Amherst is in excellent position to better its results from 2006. The Jeffs are returning six of the seven runners who raced in Nationals, plus their alternate. While the only loss to graduation-All-American Shauneen Garrahan '07-will be tough to replace, the younger harriers now have some valuable experience and will look to step up. Senior co-captains Heather Wilson and Kim Partee both earned All-American honors last year, and the duo will set a tough pace for competitors to match. Tropiano battled an injury at the end of her sophomore cross country season, but posted All-American performances in both indoor and outdoor track. A strong group of seniors will contribute experience, as Ray, Katie Moravec and Laura Mortimer were all a part of the top seven at some point last year. Sophie Galleher '10 represented the underclassmen among the scoring Jeffs, and she was the fourth Amherst runner to earn NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors in four years. In addition to the returning members of last year's varsity squad, the Jeffs have even more depth. Juniors Nicole Anderson, Caitlin McDermott-Murphy and Zandra Walton all raced at Nationals as first-years, and will look to contribute again this year.

"When you're returning 10 people who have run at Nationals you're, at the very least, off to a good start," said Wilson.

With incredible depth, valuable experience and a goal to be nothing but the best, the women's cross country team should be unstoppable.

Men

The men's cross country team had one of its best seasons in 2006, but a somewhat disappointing end has the Jeffs raring to go this year. Amherst placed third at NESCACs, tying the team's best-ever finish. The men significantly improved in the Little Three, as they defeated a strong Wesleyan University team. Then the Jeffs placed third in ECACs, as they geared up for Regionals and the chance to go to Nationals as a team. But the meet did not go as planned for Amherst. The Jeffs placed ninth and did not receive a bid to Nationals. The 2006 season was a successful one, but left the Jeffs looking to accomplish more.

"Our main goal this season is to qualify for nationals," said junior co-captain Peter Foote. "We were disappointed with our performance at Regionals last year, and look to improve significantly upon it. We should also be a factor at the NESCAC Championships, as we will look to improve upon last year's third-place finish. Last year was a step in the right direction, but we didn't accomplish everything that we had hoped for, and this year we look to really make our mark."

This season, the men will be without the services of seven members of the Class of 2007. However, with four of the top seven from last year and a strong group of younger runners, the Jeffs should have no problem picking up where they left off. "We'll be affected a bit by graduation, but many of our top runners are returning," said senior co-captain Mike Harbus.

Leading the pack for most of the season last year was Harrison Lakehomer '09. Lakehomer placed first at Little Threes as a sophomore: Amherst's first Little Three Champion since 1998. Two other underclassmen consistently contributed to the scoring as Carlyle Eubank '10 and Daniel Murner '10 both posted great results as first-years. A pair of top runners from last year, Harbus and Foote will look to stay healthy and add to the team's success. Additionally, a solid pack of sophomores gained valuable experience during the cross country and track and field seasons last year, and should give Amherst the depth it needs to be one of the more competitive teams in the region.

"We have a lot of young talent on the team that will most definitely be capable of stepping it up this year," said Eubank. "The [first-years] look very strong and the sophomores proved their willingness and ability to perform last year."

The 2007 men's cross country team seems to have all of the pieces for a successful season. The key will be racing consistently.

"Last year, we proved that we could run with the best teams in the region, but lacked the spark that we needed to take our racing to the next level at the championship meets," said Foote.

"For the team to be consistent, we need each individual to provide consistent performances," added Lakehomer. "If we stay healthy throughout the season, I don't see why we can't be consistent throughout the year and have a very successful season."

The men's and women's cross country season will get under way with the Amherst Invitational on Sept. 8.