The Colby Echo

Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: file

"Call it what you want," Chris Deroo '09 said, "but it's going to be a rebuilding year." Last year, the men's cross country team graduated six seniors. That is not to say, however, that the men have nothing to build with.

John Hall '09 fired off an impressing opening to the season at the Class Wave Relay Carnival last Saturday at Pineland Farms. Running a tactical race, Hall blazed through the 2.83 mile course in 14 minutes and 49 seconds. While four other runners also broke the 15-minute barrier, Hall claimed the distinction as the meet's fastest senior, winning his age class. Deroo, also in the senior class event, took third with a time of 15:12. Jeremy Judge '09 took seventh in 17:37.

Bates College also participated in this pre-season scrimmage foot race. Cross country runners and cross country "Nordic" skiers from both schools participated. In light of on-going construction of Seaverns Field, the Class Wave Relay replaced the cross country teams' traditional Alumni Race.

Ben Ossoff '10, a middle-distance specialist, turned on the long burning muscles for a well-earned second place performance. He covered the course in 16 minutes and 51 seconds.
The sophomores also made their mark. John "Deez" DeAscentis '11 took fourth for his class, clocking in at 15:45. Andy Maguire '11 took sixth with a time of 16:24.

The Mules sprang a number of surprising collegiate debuts. "We're really happy how the first-years did," said Deroo, "and there's a lot more in store for them." Matt Nadeau was the fleetest of Colby's class of 2012. He jetted over the nearly 3-mile course in 15:50, claiming fifth place. Chris Halladay '12 finished two spots back, crossing the line at 16:07. Classmate Will Supple '12 was eighth (16:28).

Mandy Ivey '11 finished head and shoulders ahead of the competition in the women's 2.33-mile race. Her time of 13 minutes and 53 seconds was at least seven seconds ahead of all other competitors. Ivey's junior classmates finished in third (Katrina Gravel, 14:19), fourth (Cassi Knight, 14:28) and seventh (Aneth Laban, 15:41)

The sophomore women were responsible for a second salvo of stunning performances. Emma Linhard '11 won the second-year race with a time of 14:42. Nora McCall finished steps behind Linhard, as she took the runners-up spot with a time of 14:49.
Colby cross country veterans Hannah Taska '09 and Jen MacDowell '09 are expected to rank with the best in their team, as they finished their race in first (14:35) and second place (14:45), respectively.

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