Cross Country Sweeps Home Invitational

Students have returned to campus, and along with the moving in, selecting classes, and studying comes the excitement and intensity of Oberlinıs menıs and womenıs cross-country running. The Womenıs team is already displaying their dominance by taking the top three spots in the Oberlin invitational Friday, Sept 1 at the newly opened course at the Carlisle Reservation.

Last season left Oberlin with a commendable third place finish by the women at the NCAC Championships and a strong performance by the men that geared them towards further success this season. Now that fall has returned and the two teams have finished the intense summer training, both are ready to tear up the track.

Biology professor Roger Laushman will coach the womenıs team. Three outstanding runners, seniors Ket Ashfield, Jenni Huelsman and Beth Spalding will lead as co-captains. Five of last seasonıs top seven runners will return this year, giving the team increased experience .

³The team consists of a talented group of runners who trained well all summer, had a great pre-season, and are ready to race,² said Coach Laushman.

Head coach Gavin OıNeal will lead the menıs team in their pursuits this year. Seniors John Rogers and David Bevacqua will share the title of co-captain. ³The men have really trained this year and weıre going to surprise a lot of teams because I think that we have capabilities of finishing in the top three,² said OıNeal.

On Sept 1, Oberlin hosted the Oberlin Invitational, a non-scoring event. Competing with Ohio Wesleyan, Oberlinıs women swept first, second and third with ease. Taking first was sophomore Laura Feeney with a time of 20:55, followed by sophomores Lori Tuchfeld and Kyle McKenzie. While Oberlinıs men did not have the chance to compete against other menıs teams, they did get the opportunity to hone their skills in the muggy weather and strengthen their attitudes as they prepare for todayıs Allegheny Invitational.

On a most exciting note, Oberlin will host the NCAC Championships on Saturday, Oct 28. Cross-country enthusiasts will remember that Oberlin was unable to host any meets last season due to the lack of a quality course. However, this year Meet Director Tom Mulligan has put in large amounts of effort to get a beautiful course developed at the Carlisle Reservation, which is east of Oberlin. Both teams and their coaches are immeasurably excited about this upcoming event.

³We have an excellent shot at winning conference this year and everyone should be psyched. The meet is here and everyone should come watch us destroy the competition. Thatıs right kids, an Oberlin team that is actually good,² said Huelsman.

³People should come watch the NCAC meet in late October. Weıd love the support, and when else do you get to see hundreds of runners plunging themselves deep into the depths of oxygen-deprived agony? Whichever team can collectively endure the most pain will win. Come see who it will be,² said Junior Hans Petersen.

³We are a great looking team. Everyone has been training hard and is ready for some competition,² said Senior Daniel Schwartz.

This week the men will continue to gain experience at the Allegheny meet today. The women will get another chance to display their prowess at the Ohio Northern Invitational on Saturday.