NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Despite rain, wind, mud and the cold, the Mount Holyoke College cross country team powered their way to sixth overall at the 2018 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Cross Country Championships on Saturday. The event, which was hosted by Smith College, saw the Lyons compile 144 points – just 11 points behind the host Pioneers for fifth overall.
Going into the championship, the Lyons goal had been to finish sixth or better, a feat they achieved through preparation and confidence. The wrath of Mother Nature and a slow/muddy course didn't deter the Lyons as they focused on running as a team.
Running with unwavering self-esteem, each team member ran with heart and fight despite the challenges. Pacing the effort was sophomore Simone Jacob, who placed 17th overall in the team placing with a time of 20:14 – marking a course-best effort. Rookie Sydney Nash also posted a course-best time, crossing the finish line in a time of 20:38 – good for 24th overall in team placing.
Senior Emsie Cronin came across the line in 28th, posting a course-best time of 20:47, while sophomore Meryl Phair also hit a course-best time despite the wet, soft and down-right slow course, finishing 37th with a mark of 21:02.
Next across for the Lyons team was senior captain Corrin Moss, who finished in 21:05 – marking a new course time – and was 38th. Rookie Sarah Hyde was right behind in 39th with a time of 21:07 – a course-best, while senior captain Hannah Gershone wrapped up the team placing in 47th with a time of 21:14.
Individually, the Lyons saw a number of competitors finish strong. Overall, rookies Sophia Gronbeck and Jamie Day earned 57th (21:23) and 58th (21:23), respectively, while junior Emma Raney ran a course-best time of 21:29 to earn 60th overall.
Junior Michelle Serrano and first year Sophia Anderson also went back-to-back across the line, recording times of 22:17 and 22:20 to earn 90th and 91st on the afternoon. Rookie Katie Milligan was 93rd across the line with a time of 22:25, while classmate Sammi Craig was 96th, recording a course-best time of 22:27.
Also finishing well individually was junior Brigit Wolf, who was 113th (22:52), followed by rookie Natalie Rodman, who was 122nd (23:13). Sophomore Olivia Wrobleski and rookie Amanda Kearney were 132nd (23:55) and 133rd (23:57), while rookies Charlotte Lindblom and Molly Lukiwsky rounded out the efforts in 139th (24:20) and 140th (24:24).
Mount Holyoke now turns its sights on November when it competes at the 2018 NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship. The event will take place on the 10th and is hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
