The morning of the Smith Invitational started off on a good note as Smith’s new president, Kathleen McCartney, warmed up the race course for the Smith team; she finished her workout on the track just as the team was arriving. That’s right: Smith’s new president is a runner! She returned to the track a couple hours later to cheer on the team to a fifth place finish—not bad considering four runners are injured, and for four runners it was their first collegiate race.
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Yes, this is what it means to run as a pack! How many Smith runners can you find in this picture? (Hint: you gotta be on the lookout for Katie D's yellow prewrap-hair band.)
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The team made good
on a promise they made last weekend to work together, trust in their training,
and trust in their teammates. The
result was some excellent pack running and three personal records on the
course. That’s right: Micaela Young, Katie Dempsey, and Katie Paulson-Smith all set personal
records for the tough Smith course during the first race of the season, when legs are tired from preseason and the weather is hot.
The Smith pack
started strong today and continued to work together throughout the race. Senior Micaela Young and first year
Katie Stephens finished within three seconds of each other (20:21 and 20:24),
followed by junior Katie Dempsey (21:09).
Fourth and fifth place runners for the team, Katie Paulson-Smith and
Kylee Drugan-Eppich, finished within a second of each other (21:24.55 and
21:24.66). Not far behind were
first year Becky Colfer (21:27.34), senior Victoria Dunch (21:48.43), first year Sarah Sutto-Pluntz (22:06.11), and first year Sophie Dilek (22:43.19).
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| Post-race relaxing, sporting the new team tie-dyes |
After the race,
families and friends gathered to picnic in the sun, celebrating the beginning
of fall and the cross country season ahead. Thanks to everyone who came to the race today. The team now has three weeks to train (and heal) before the next race on September 28 in Boston.
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| Picnic! |
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