Women's Cross Country: Caputo races at NCAA's tomorrow

Lauren Caputo was only a freshman the last time a Tufts woman ran in the national cross country meet. In 2000, she watched her team captain, Leslie Crofton (LA '01), represent the Jumbos at NCAA's by placing fifth and becoming an All-American.

Now a senior tri-captain herself, Caputo will follow in Crofton's footsteps when she races against the country's fastest women tomorrow morning in the NCAA National Championship at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana.

"Everyone looked up to [Leslie] that year," Caputo said. "Now I have that chance to run well and represent the team, so it's really exciting."

For the first time in her collegiate career, Caputo will be without any teammates when the gun goes off. She was the sole female Jumbo to qualify at last weekend's Div. III New England meet, where she placed 20th and earned All-New England honors in addition to the national berth. The familiar faces of several conference foes will be present, though, as five NESCAC schools -- Middlebury, Amherst, Williams, Trinity, and Bowdoin -- qualified their full seven-member squads for the meet.

Williams is the defending national champion in the team competition, but Middlebury is the favorite going into tomorrow's meet. The Panthers won last weekend's NE Championships and were ranked first in the most recent Div. III coaches' poll. Wartburg College junior Missy Buttry won the individual title last year, and will look to defend her crown.

According to Caputo, she is keeping her expectations realistic.

"If I made top 35, which is All-American, I would be so excited," Caputo said. "But I really don't have many expectations. I'm just glad I get to run [at Nationals]."

Caputo said she wishes that more of her teammates could be running alongside her in Indiana.

"I feel like there should definitely be more Jumbos out there with me," she said.

But while Caputo may be the only Tufts woman racing the 6K course, there will be plenty of Jumbos in the men's competition, where the Tufts seven is ranked seventh. Caputo said that the presence of the men's team could help her in her own preparation and race.

"Their excitement is really great to be around," Caputo said. "I'm really glad they're going. The more Jumbos the better."

There will in fact be far more Jumbos at Hanover College this weekend than just the eight who qualified for Nationals. Caputo estimated that about 30 fans from the men's and women's teams are driving to Indiana today and camping out -- all to cheer on the Tufts runners.

"They're so awesome for driving all the way out there," Caputo said. "I think it'll definitely help us in the meet to have tons of fans screaming. The more support the better."

Although tomorrow's race will be the last of Caputo's collegiate cross country career, she expressed no regrets.

"It's pretty crazy," Caputo said. "It's my last meet, but it's a really great way to go out."