Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Senior Farewell, YOU WILL BE MISSED!



Kylee Drugan-Eppich
Abby Mosca
Victoria Dunch 

Katie Paulson-Smith 
Micaela Young



DIII Cross Country Regionals: Gorham Maine

CONGRATS SMITH WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ! 2013 has been....GRAND!  

"GORHAM, Maine--The Smith College cross country team ended the 2013 season at the NCAA New England Regional race at the Narragansett School, hosted by the University of Southern Maine on Saturday.  The Pioneers placed 13th out of 53 New England Teams. 

Danielle Opatovsky led Smith with a time of 22:32.51 on the six kilometer course, good for 49th place overall in a field of 371.  All seven of Smith's runners were in the top 150.  

Micaela Young was Smith's second finisher, crossing the line in 22:52.43, followed by Cynthia Masai in 23:05.98, for 78th place.  Kylee Drugan-Eppich also finished in the top 100, with a time of 23:27.88 (98th overall), with Victoria Dunch (23:36.49, 110th), Katie Paulson-Smith(24:07.49, 128th), and Abby Mosca (24:17.20, 138th).

Williams College won finished first overall as a team, with the Ephs' Kaleigh Kenny capturing individual medalist honors in a time of 21:02.18." (www.smithpioneers.com) 


Cynthia laces up her shoes for a fast race.  She PRed for both the 6k and 5k!
Sun's Out Buns Out. 

Katie Steve swingin' and cheerin'

Lucky number 12!

We have a new teammate! 


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Senior Profile: Victoria!


1. Major/ area of interest

 Environmental Science and Policy major and Marine Science Minor

2. What do you think is the most exciting part of Cross Country? 
For me, the part of this sport that I find most exciting is breaking times and distances. There's nothing more satisfying than finishing a run or crossing a finish line and thinking, "I just pushed myself harder than I ever have before. I've never been this strong. I just did something I've never done before." When I'm not in a competitive mode though, what I find most exciting about running cross country is just the things you see and encounter and the feeling that gives you. Finding yourself alone in the middle of the woods or somewhere hidden miles from home, and knowing that you carried yourself there. Sometimes it feels like you ran into a fairy world and back out, some place no one else knows or understands. 

3. What is your best running moment?
My best running moments have generally been in races, when I can specifically remember deciding that I wanted to pass a pack of girls toward the end, or thinking about the "ghosts of those who came before me" on certain courses. But one of my favorite moments was when I was running alone on the beach in South Carolina summer of 2012. It was sunset so of course it was beautiful and a pod of dolphins came right by where I was running and one was no more than 3 meters from me, because the water dropped off very suddenly at that specific spot near the marshes. After following them along the beach for an hour I finally ran back to my car and started crying from sheer joy and amazement. It was incredibly moving. 

4. What is your favorite thing to do in Northampton?
Going out to eat is definitely one of my favorite things to do in Northampton since there are so many good restaurants. Going downtown to GoBerry with the XC team is a favorite. 

5. How does it feel to be a senior at Smith ! 
I'm excited to be a senior at Smith for many, probably somewhat obvious reasons. Graduation and the rest of my life are close at hand, and it makes all the moments I spend with the women I love even more special. There are also many tradition in my own house that come with being a senior, Medieval Banquet and Senior Banquet for example. The first is one where we all dress up in Medieval garb and have a banquet where we're entertained by "jesters." The second is where we all gather to reflect on some special and comical moments over the past four years. These are exciting events I'm looking forward to, and then of course Senior Week and Graduation which are all conducted so beautifully here at Smith. 

6. What is your favorite thing/story about the team?
One of my favorite stories about the team is the time we were running downtown on our way out of town. We had to stop and wait for the crosswalk at the intersection by Florence Savings Bank, and a guy standing nearby shouted out, "Hey! Are you guys like a gang or something?" And we said, "No, we're Smith's Cross Country team." To which the man said something like, "Oh right! I heard you guys were in town!" That phrase ended up on our shirt that year, "I heard you guys were in town!" We died laughing and kept on running. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Senior Profile: Kylee!

Abby (Left), Kylee (Right)
1. Major/ Area of interest 
Psychology major, Study of Women and Gender minor 

2. What do you think is the most exciting part of Cross Country? 
I find racing to be the most exciting part of cross-country.  We have the chance to see what we can do with all the hard work we've put in, testing ourselves physically and mentally! 

3. What is your best running moment? 
My best running moment is not one, but every single time I find myself fighting through the negative thoughts and succeeding in pushing myself and finding the power I know we all have. 

4. What is your favorite thing to do in Northampton?
My favorite thing to do in Northampton is going to Herrell's and getting a scoop of Mudpie ice cream in a chocolate dipped/sprinkled waffle cone.  Getting nachos at Mama Iguana's is right up there, too. :) 

5. How does it feel to be a senior at Smith ! 
It is a bizarre feeling, being a senior.  As most seniors would say, it does in fact feel like I was a first year just a little while ago.  Time really does fly, and especially when you're a part of such an amazing team, I think these 4 years have been the best so far!  I'm excited to see what we can do for the rest of the season, and itching to see what running has in store for me in the next phase of my life. 

6. What is your favorite thing/story about the team?
I'd have to say that my favorite thing about the team is how incredibly close we are.  We push through our toughest moments together, we comfort each other, and we laugh together.  A great image that I have of the team is dinners at Tyler, being loud, and laughing so hard we pee.

Overall, cross-country has been the highlight of my college experience, and I can't wait to extend the friendships I've made here into the real world!

Kylee making the team laugh after a hard workout! 

Rise and Shine! Early Morning Practice Fun

Smith Cross Country. Lookin' FAST.













Sunday, November 10, 2013

More photos from NEWMAC!

Seniors...we will miss you!  You are the best!


And, of course, the requisite silly team pic:

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

NEWMAC Conference Championships 2013 Part 1


“Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms.” 


Below are some amateur photos taken from the meet this past weekend ; ) If family, friends or athletes have any photos they would like to share please feel free to email us at smithxc11@gmail.com. 

Also included is a link to professional photos taken by Frank Poulin that can be purchased online. http://frankpoulinphotography.smugmug.com/Sports2013-2014/Cross-Country-2013/NEWMAC-womens-cross-country-ch

Thank you all again for keeping up with Smith Cross Country! We appreciate your support. Additional NEWMAC photo's coming soon....


Abby staying warm!

Team warmup or cuddle time?

On the line ready to run fast!

Buddies - Sarah and Katie Steve