Spring Break
XCOUNTRY: Sophomores shine in opener
by Matt Baron and Jeffrey Pickette
Sports | 9/2/08
Posted online at 11:24 PM EST on 9/1/08
The men's and women's cross country teams both got off to fast starts this season, with each team easily securing victories over the men's and women's teams from crosstown rival Bentley College in a meet last Friday at Bentley.
The Judges' sophomores led the way in both the men's and women's races, as the women recorded three of the four best times and had 11 of the top 13 times overall, while the men's team had the best three times in the race and 12 out of the top 15 performances overall.
On the women's side, Grayce Selig '11 made the most of her official cross country debut, finishing in first in 15 minutes, 27 seconds in the four-kilometer race. Selig joined cross country after a promising rookie campaign last year for both the indoor and outdoor track teams.
"She [was] really strong through the indoor and outdoor seasons, and I'm not surprised. … She put in a lot of hard work this summer and came back in great shape," captain Katy Agule '09 said.
Classmate Marie Lemay '11 was just behind Selig in second place, finishing in 15:32. Rookie Alyssa Pisarik '12 impressed in her collegiate debut as well, coming in fourth place in 15:45.
"I think we treat this first race (as a past teammate once said) as a 'rustbuster.' We just wanted to get out and … keep moving fast," Agule said. "Racing's a lot different than working out … So I think it was a good meet for all of us to get out there, get the legs moving and just step over our first hurdle of the first meet."
On the men's side, the team's performance helped to solidify the No. 29 preseason ranking the team earned in the Division III United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's poll.
Despite the absences of top runners Mekonen Gendebo '11, the University Athletic Association cross country rookie of the year in 2007, and captain Matt Jennings '09, the Judges still easily defeated Bentley.
Paul Norton '11 led the way for the men with a time of 18:03 in the 3 1/2- mile course. Classmate Zach Schwartz '11 finished second with a time of 18:13 ,and captain Mike Stone '09 came in third with a time of 18:23.
The Judges' sophomores led the way in both the men's and women's races, as the women recorded three of the four best times and had 11 of the top 13 times overall, while the men's team had the best three times in the race and 12 out of the top 15 performances overall.
On the women's side, Grayce Selig '11 made the most of her official cross country debut, finishing in first in 15 minutes, 27 seconds in the four-kilometer race. Selig joined cross country after a promising rookie campaign last year for both the indoor and outdoor track teams.
"She [was] really strong through the indoor and outdoor seasons, and I'm not surprised. … She put in a lot of hard work this summer and came back in great shape," captain Katy Agule '09 said.
Classmate Marie Lemay '11 was just behind Selig in second place, finishing in 15:32. Rookie Alyssa Pisarik '12 impressed in her collegiate debut as well, coming in fourth place in 15:45.
"I think we treat this first race (as a past teammate once said) as a 'rustbuster.' We just wanted to get out and … keep moving fast," Agule said. "Racing's a lot different than working out … So I think it was a good meet for all of us to get out there, get the legs moving and just step over our first hurdle of the first meet."
On the men's side, the team's performance helped to solidify the No. 29 preseason ranking the team earned in the Division III United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's poll.
Despite the absences of top runners Mekonen Gendebo '11, the University Athletic Association cross country rookie of the year in 2007, and captain Matt Jennings '09, the Judges still easily defeated Bentley.
Paul Norton '11 led the way for the men with a time of 18:03 in the 3 1/2- mile course. Classmate Zach Schwartz '11 finished second with a time of 18:13 ,and captain Mike Stone '09 came in third with a time of 18:23.
Be the first to comment on this story