The Lions competed in the 2007 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Cross Country Championships this past Saturday. The competition was hosted by Williams College at Mt. Greylock Regional High School in Maryland.
Head coach Phil Jennings decided to take the eighth through 14th place runners to the ECACs in order to make sure the top seven runners were well-rested and prepared for the next week's regional meet.
"The team ran especially well," Jennings said. "Their progression shows the depth of the team and future success of the program."
The women placed fourth out of 31 teams with 155 points. The College followed Williams (47), Amherst College (63) and Middlebury College (104).
The first scorer for the Lions was senior Erin Enderly, who took 12th place in a time of 23:34.7. Following her lead was freshman Kristen Lewis, placing 17th in 23:43.4. Senior Julie Ullmeyer was next with a time of 24:13.6 and a 30th place finish.
Taking 35th place in 24:20.6 was sophomore Michelle Wallace and placing 61st in 25:10.9 was sophomore Michelle Barbarasch.
Completing the team's race were sophomore Kelly Cahill, 95th in 26:06.3, and sophomore Lauren Keller, who captured 127th in 26:46.2.
The men's team picked up a fifth place finish out of 37 teams overall, ending with a total score of 168 points. Finishing ahead of the College was Williams College (45), Keene State College (96), Oneonta State (126) and St. Vincent College (139).
Senior Kyle Alpaugh led the men in the 8,000-meter race to cross the finish line in 26:48.8, placing eighth overall. Junior Josh Krowicki took 18th place in a time of 27:10.5 while sophomore Paul Bernardo picked up 40th place in 27:44.2. Right behind Bernardo in 41st place was sophomore Brain Toms, running a time of 27:45.2.
Additionally for the men, sophomore Rich Nelson captured 61st place with a time of 28:08.2 and freshman Kyle Roos brought home 83rd place in 28:37.8.
Adding a 95th place finish, the final scorer for the men was freshman Dennie Waite who finished with a time of 28:58.9.
"The team performed well," Alpaugh said. "Many individuals who normally don't score for the team's total score contributed in big ways."
For Alpaugh, the ECAC meet may be his last collegiate meet for the College.
"My experience on the (College's) men's cross country team was definitely positive," he said. "Since I have been here, we have qualified and competed at Nationals to a high degree, and I know the success of the team will continue, and most likely increase, in the future."
The Lions have experienced great success so far this season, but it is now time for them to tackle their greatest challenge thus far. On Saturday, the Lions will head to Van Cortland Park, N.Y., to compete in the Atlantic Regional Championships where they hope to win the chance to race at Nationals.
