W. cross country finishes 13th in the nation

By: Phoebe Campbell

Posted: 12/4/08

The women's cross country team had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving after a truly amazing season. First, they had taken the Centennial Conference title, then the Mideast regional title before finally earning their top 15 finish at Nationals, ending the year on an up, up, up. This was the second appearance at Nationals for the women's team, their first being in 2007. "Our goal is certainly to improve upon our performance at Nationals last season," Coach Van Allen said before the meet. With their 13th-place finish, the team placed a massive 16 spots ahead of their 29th placing in 2007.

The team lined up against the nation's top 32 teams at the NCAA Championships in Hanover, IN on Saturday. In less than 25 minutes, the team's seven runners had all crossed the line, they had finished 13th and once again had stamped their mark on the Jay history books.

For a college athlete it doesn't get any bigger than competing at Nationals. Sophomore co-captain Mary O'Grady described the experience. "The atmosphere at nationals was conducive to the excitement we were already feeling. Fans lined the entire course running back and forth with the runners. There was even a billboard along the highway promoting the NCAA cross country Championships." Team superstar Laura Paulsen shared O'Grady's excitement.

"The spectators were crazy and you get pumped up and psyched because you realize you're at nationals and that's awesome," Paulsen said.

The atmosphere clearly worked for Paulsen as she led the Jays with a time of 21.37.36 and took 31st place, eight places ahead of her 39th place finish in 2007. For Paulsen, it was a fitting end to a successful season, in which she took the top spot in the Centennial Conference race and finally won her All-American honors.

"I was so happy to finally get All-American!" Paulsen said. "I've been chasing after it for a while now, so to finish on this note was so great." The rest of the squad didn't finish the season too badly either.

"We improved so much individually and as a team," Coach Van Allen said. Junior Mira Patel crossed the line just 17 seconds behind Paulsen to take 41st place in a time of 21.54.94. The remaining five runners - Emma Hiza, Cecilia Furlong, Rachel Hogen, Mary O'Grady and Christina Valerio - all finished within four minutes of Paulsen and Patel, leaving Hopkins with 381 points and placing them just above St. Thomas (Minn.) who ranked 14th with 383 points and Williamette who ranked 15th. Middlebury took the top spot with 179 points for their second title in three years. They were followed by Calvin and Williams who took 2nd and 3rd respectively.

So what have the Lady Jays taken from their achievements this season? "We have a great team with the depth needed to dominate and the spirit necessary to put out a great performance every time," O'Grady said.

"The team really connected well together and we were all focused and willing to work hard to make this season a success," Paulsen said.

"We want to establish ourselves as one of the top teams in the nation," Coach Bobby Van Allen said before the championship race. Their top 15 finish at nationals was the first big leap in this direction and with only two seniors leaving, next year holds the possibility of even greater success. When the time comes, the team will be ready and O'Grady promises "If they ever make us one of those big blue boards around the stadium for Conference Champions, Regional Champions or Nationals Qualifiers, we'll be ready with years to put on them."