Prepared both mentally and physically for the extended rigors of the first championship-length, 6K race, the women's cross country team took to the slanting hills of the Jumbos' home course in Grafton.
What was left when the dust cleared was a victory over the top-seeded team in New England, a broken course record, and personal bests for many of the pack.
"What's surprising is that we're right in the middle of our toughest training cycle," coach Kristen Morwick said. "Also, Grafton is probably our
toughest course of the season, so it's almost crazy for them to do so well."
The Jumbos spend most of their regular season racing on 5,000-meter courses, but postseason races are the championship distance of 6,000. Saturday's race tested the team with one of the tougher 6,000-meter courses in the region, and the Jumbos rose to the occasion.
Amid the standout performances, junior tri-captain Catherine Beck led the way for the Jumbos with another first-place finish. With a time of 22:09, she was back from last week's rest and back to her old habits, setting a new course record and a new personal best for 6,000 meters. Beck's 2006 results now include two races, two wins, two personal bests, and two broken course records.
"[The increased distance] wasn't as much of a shock as it was in the last years," Beck said. "The hard workouts definitely paid off. We had some fabulous [personal bests]."
Junior Katy O'Brien (22:23) turned in a third-place finish with sophomore Evelyn Sharkey crossing the line soon after in fifth with a personal best of 22:46. Senior tri-captain Sarah Crispin (eighth, 23:01) churned out a fierce performance that kept her in the top five despite the return of her speedy teammates.
"When you go out for longer intervals and over-distance in practice, a 6K course is much less intimidating," Crispin said of her preparation going into the lengthier course of the Invitational.
Although senior Sam Moland (12th, 23:35) filled the fifth spot, a strong middle pack put four more Tufts runners across the finish just three seconds behind. Sophomore Katie Rizzolo (13th, 23:35) raced for a down-to-the-second tie with Moland. Junior Anna Shih (15th, 23:36), competing in her first race of the season, followed Rizzolo with sophomore Susan Allegretti (16th, 23:37) and senior Raquel Morgan (18th, 23:38) right behind her.
This strength down the roster gives Morwick some additional weapons outside the top five, and adds depth to the team as it heads into the championships season.
"We really do have interchangeable spots this season," Morwick said. "It all depends on what kind of a day someone's having. If one, drops back, another covers for them. It's nice to see them working together."
Flying solo out front, Beck got her second shot at Amherst's Shauneen Garrahan(second, 22:13), the only runner she did not mange to catch during last year's Jumbo Invitational. This time around, the rematch with Garrahan, the 2005 NCAA steeplechase winner, was decidedly different.
"[Beck] started out really conservatively and was planning to stay on [Garrahan's] heels for a bit, but [Beck] was stumbling over her to stay there, so she was just like 'See you later!'" Morwick said.
Although four teams were present, the Jumbo Invitational essentially turned into a two-team race. The competition separated out over the course, leaving Tufts (29) and Amherst (34) vying for first, with Bates (74) in a distant third and Fitchburg State (120) in fourth. Amherst was ranked third nationally and first in New England in the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches' Association preseason poll, and combined with the Tufts roster to account for all but one of the top 15 finishers.
"Amherst is first in New England and is a pretty deep team," Morwick said. "But when I saw the [Amherst] coaches counting runners, I knew we'd won."
However, with Amherst missing two of its top runners Saturday in juniors Katie Moravec and Kim Partee, a true assessment of the teams at their respective full strengths is something to be anticipated. Morwick remains firmly proud and optimistic.
"We can challenge any team in New England...at this point," Morwick said. "Knock on wood. So far, so good."
