Minus several runners, XC puts on strong showing

The men's cross country team finished seventh out of 31 teams at the Umass-Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, despite resting several of its top runners. With an eye towards this weekend's home meet, the Jumbos rested four of the top seven from last week's Dartmouth Invitational.

"The last two meets were pretty strenuous, so we sat out a significant chunk of our top seven to give some guys breathers," junior co-captain Jon Rosen said. "It was a chance for some other guys to step up and run in a varsity meet."

There was also a larger strategy behind resting several runners.

"It was the first time we got to race against some teams we'll see later," junior co-captain Peter Bromka said. "So we had some gamesmanship _ hid some cards, so to speak. At the same time, we got to see what they had."

The US Costal Guard Academy (62) finished first, followed by Trinity College (86), Connecticut College (108), Amherst College (138), Stonehill College (153), Keene State (153), and Tufts (188). University of New Haven (193), Colby College (236), and University of Southern Maine (259) rounded out the top ten.

Bromka led the way for Tufts, finishing 22nd overall with a time of 26:24.45. He was followed by freshmen Michael Cummings (25th at 26:32.33) and Adam Sharp (34th at 26:44.11), and juniors Ian Joseph (47th at 27:01.6), Peter Jurczynski (61st at 27:20.63), Zach Chrisco (64th at 27:26.63), and James Lamoureux (76th at 27:46.94).

Cummings finished in the top five on the team for the third straight meet, and Bromka praised how smoothly he made the transition from high school to college running. In addition to faster times for many of the runners, the chemistry on the team is improving.

"This past week we've been coming together very well and progressing as a team," Bromka said.

Despite resting several of its top runners, the Jumbos' times improved for the third consecutive meet. Tufts finished with an average time of 26:48.63, down from 27:19.29 average for the top seven at Dartmouth last weekend and 27:49.5 at the Hayseed Classic.

"There are only a few other teams in New England that could rest people like we did and still put out a respectable showing like that," Bromka said.

The Jumbos are anxiously awaiting the return of several injured runners who will only add to an already deep roster. Sophomore Mike Don, one of last year's top runners, has yet to run a race this year after suffering a stress fracture over the summer. Don is planning to return to action this weekend.

All these factors could have Tufts peaking at the right time heading into their Jumbo Invitational, held on Tufts' Grafton course at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

"We're all getting psyched," Rosen said. "We always want to represent on our home course. Everyone who's not injured is going to put it on the line."

"I'm going to start out a little conservatively," Don said. "But I'm looking forward to kicking it into first gear and running my hardest."

The meet will feature some tough opponents in NESCAC rivals Amherst and Williams College. Several runners identified the matchup against Williams as particularly important for the team.

Tufts beat Williams earlier in the season at the Dartmouth Invitational, but Williams was resting some runners then. Beating the Ephs, Rosen said, "will be the next step in defining where the team is."

"We're fighting with Williams for a regional ranking" Don said.

In the Sept. 16 New England Regional Coaches Poll, Williams was third while Tufts was right behind them at fourth