Athletics

Meet Summaries

Cross Country Season 2009

EWS 15–Tamarac 50
EWS 36–Hoosic Valley 19

The Emma Willard Jesters kicked off the season this cool, cloudy day on the beautiful course at Saratoga Spa State Park. It was exciting to get an early-season look at the course where we will run the championship race at the end of October. Energy and nerves were running high in the van, as five members of the team were preparing to run their first cross country race ever. Veteran runner Sophia amused the rookies with tales of her first races last year, and team captain Laura (more than ready to jump back into racing after a few years’ sojourn in soccer) shared reassurance and helpful tips. After jogging the course in a light sprinkle that turned into a steady drizzle, the team huddled for warmth on the starting line, but when the starter’s gun went off, warmth was no longer a concern! It was thrilling to see the confidence and grace of our harriers as they took to the field with thirty other girls.

Freshmen Mary-Elisabeth and Ayla had wonderful first races. Mary-Elisabeth showed real maturity in her ability to marshal her energies and run a consistent race, finishing strong in 31:23. Ayla kept her eyes on the prize—in the form of teammate Aaryn’s bright red shirt—and finished close behind her in 27:29.
Sophomores Aaryn and Natalie, also new to the sport, were positive attitude queens-of-the-day. Aaryn’s contagious excitement about the race had been building all week, and she looked as though she’d been running all her life as she shot across the finish line in 27:26. Natalie’s million-watt smile, meanwhile, scattered all of the afternoon’s grey clouds as she came down the straightaway, finishing in 32:08.

Junior team captain Laura seems never to have left the sport, and she looked as though she might keep running all the way to downtown Saratoga when she blazed through at 26:06. Classmate Sophia looked powerful and graceful as always when she floated past the finish at 23:39. She led her team in more ways than one today: her coach greatly appreciated her wisdom, navigational skills, and humor! Senior team captain Emily followed close behind Sophia at 23:45. Although this was Emily’s first high school cross country race, her running experience showed clearly in her poise and resolve.

Next week Ayesha, Karmela, Kenzie, and Melissa will join the ranks as we race with Tamarac and Granville at Greenwich. That swath of bright red will be a sight to behold!

EW 15–Tamarac 50
EW 15–Granville 50
EWS 50–Greenwich 15

After accomplishing the truly amazing feat of piling all eleven runners plus their capacious backpacks into the van, we enjoyed the scenic drive up to Greenwich. It was a beautiful day for running—breezy and cloudy (and just buggy enough to prevent boredom). The course presented a mental challenge right at the beginning, because of its opening lap on the track. Despite all efforts not to go out too fast, it was difficult to resist the urge to speed around the track, and several runners found that they had to dig deep for the resources to keep up their energy during the rest of the race. As the pack headed up an early hill, though, the Jesters saw their hill training paying off. While others slowed or walked the hill, EWS runners were able to charge right up, thinking, “This is nothing compared to Tangeman!” and passing opponents as they crested the hill.

There were mixed reactions to the two-loop course: while some found it a bit monotonous and missed the varied scenery of Spa Park, others appreciated this course’s predictability and found they were able to gauge pace more accurately. Since we run a different course at each meet (save the return to Spa Park for championships), we’re likely to encounter something to suit every runner over the course of the season.
Melissa, Karmela, Ayesha, and Kenzie had excellent debuts today; it was exciting to have the whole team ready to compete.
Highlights of the race included Laura and Karmela’s wonderfully strong finishes just seconds apart on the track and Aaryn’s gutsy fight against her opponent’s wicked kick in the final 200 meters. Her post-race choice to look ahead, to the next time she’ll have a chance to beat that kick rather than to be discouraged, reflected true cross country spirit.

Congratulations to Laura, Aaryn, and Sophia, who all brought down their average mile times from last week’s race.
And a heartfelt thank you from the entire team to Natalie’s mom, who provided delicious cookies to fuel the post-race analysis in the van ride home!

EW 15–Granville 50
EWS 19–Schuylerville 36

We headed north to today’s meet, hosted by Schuylerville at Fort Hardy Park. Although Ayla and Natalie were not running because of illness, we still had more than a full team, and Natalie was able to come along to offer great moral support and cheer on her teammates. We’re looking forward to having both girls back, fully recovered, next week.

After last week’s short course at Greenwich, we were back on a scenic full 5K course that follows the towpath along the Hudson. The runners enjoyed both the misty weather and the out-and-back course. Many improved on their 5K times from Saratoga; Aaryn chopped off more than a minute!
Sophia and Emily continued to lead the team with aplomb. They set their sights on two Schuylerville runners and passed both before the third mile, earning spots 4 and 5 in our scoring against this powerful team.

The entire team continues to impress me daily with their maturity. Before she even caught her breath at the finish line, Karmela was letting me know to keep an eye out for a fellow runner who wasn’t feeling well. Just a few seconds later, Aaryn and Ayesha pushed each other to their fastest times of the season, crossing the finish line nearly in tandem. As soon as Kenzie crossed the finish line, she was setting a goal for the PR she wants to reach by season’s end. The list of moments showing these runners’ exceptional character could go on and on!

Kenzie and Emily both brought down their average mile times from last week’s race—no small achievement since this week’s course was a half mile longer!

EW 50–Greenwich 15
EW 29–Stillwater 28

Today was a beautiful day to head over to our closest running neighbors at Tamarac: blue skies, puffy clouds, and bright sun! It was definitely the hottest day we’ve raced on during this chilly, wet fall season, but the Emma runners were cool as cucumbers. It was also the longest course we’ve run, and its steep hill (encountered twice) and high grass posed significant challenges. This makes it all the more impressive that six runners had their fastest mile averages of the season on this course! Brave! Brave!

The dynamic duo of Natalie and Mary Elisabeth was back in action today, and we loved seeing their strong finish, complete with wide smiles. Mary Elisabeth summed up cross country in a nutshell when she said of today’s race, “Well, it hurt, but I liked it.” Ayla returned to the fray as well today and had a successful run (though it involved more navigation than intended).

Emily had a phenomenal knock-down, drag-out in the finishing half lap on the track, coming in ahead of the Greenwich opponent who’d been fighting to keep up with her for the last half mile and just a flea’s whisker behind the Stillwater runner who put on a surprising burst of speed in the last 20 seconds (technical running definition of a flea’s whisker: not even a tenth of a second!).

It was great to see pairs and groups of Emma runners working together throughout the race. Aaryn and Ayesha continued to push each other, and Laura, Melissa, and Kenzie kept each other’s eyes on the prize. Such support and incitement from teammates are priceless in the middle of a long, difficult race.
Next week’s meet will be at Emma Willard, and we’re already looking forward to a rematch with Stillwater on our home turf. Thanks as always to the family and friends who come to cheer on the Emma runners—even though they run by in a flash, they hear and appreciate the support!

EW 30–Schuylerville 27
EW 30–Stillwater 25

Well, the clouds threatened and the rain spat all day, but by the time our home meet began we had nothing but blue skies and sunshine (and freezing cold!). Forty-seven runners thundered off the starting line for the varsity race, providing some great shots for the Gargoyle photographer.

All the runners agreed that this was the toughest course they had run all season. EW runners had the advantage since they’re used to our hilly campus home (the faculty volunteer stationed at the top of the Tangeman hill noticed a distinct difference between EW’s approach to the monster hill and the other teams’), but the race was no walk in the park for them either. They were all grateful for the vociferous support of faculty and students stationed around the course!
Sophia continued to struggle with the lack of competitors immediately in front of her. The “trail-blazing” position is a difficult one in a cross country race, but she did a great job of setting her sights on members of the Stillwater boys’ team out ahead in order to pick up her pace mid-race. She claimed the first place spot in our scoring with Stillwater and third place with Schuylerville. As one observer noted, Karmela looked “as if she could keep running forever.” Her ability to maintain a consistent pace even on the toughest uphill is truly awesome. Despite the course’s difficulty, both Aaryn and Ayla had their fastest times of the season: each of them took more than 15 seconds off her average mile pace. Congrats!

The entire team did exceptional work on this tough course. The amazing camaraderie they’ve developed on the hills of the back forty came through loud and clear as they cheered for each other at the finish line.

A heartfelt thank you to the dozen faculty and student course marshals who made the meet run smoothly, providing directions and encouragement at all the right spots on the course. Special mention has to go to Sam, who went far above and beyond the call of brotherly duty by helping out at the finish line and recording times on the score sheet long after his fingers were numb with cold!

With only one meet left before the League Championships (Thursday, 10/29, 4 p.m. at Spa State Park), this is the time for the team to stay focused and healthy. Have a wonderful, rejuvenating long weekend!

EWS 38–Hoosic Valley 21

An intrepid group of runners came back to school early after the long weekend and hopped aboard for our longest van ride of the season. (Thank goodness Mary Elisabeth and Natalie were there to keep us entertained with jokes and dire prognostications about just how lost we were!) After Coach MacKenzie’s navigational skills were tested to the max, the Jesters finally arrived at Christ the King Retreat Center in idyllic Easton, NY, for the final meet of the regular season (hosted by Hoosic Valley). A small but spirited crew of EW runners took off up the steep hill that started the course, avoiding snakes and toads on the gravel road before turning into the woods. The runners all enjoyed the bucolic course with its leaf-strewn path, burbling stream, and ridgeline views of nearby mountains. Despite many natural obstacles to solid footing, they ran well on this 2.7 mile course, and Emily and Laura had their fastest average miles of the season. Sophia, Emily, and Laura claimed spots four, five, and six after Hoosic Valley’s first three runners, with Laura finishing just seconds ahead of a Hoosic Valley contender who was trying hard to catch her. Next week, a full team effort at the League Championships!

Wasaren League Championships at Saratoga Spa State Park—October 29

The team had a truly outstanding showing at today’s championship meet. Every uninjured runner not only met, but exceeded, her time goal for the race and set a personal record for the season!

In team scoring, Emma Willard finished fifth out of six teams competing, handily beating Tamarac (140) and finishing hot on the heels of Stillwater (the closest score of the meet was between Stillwater (110) and Emma Willard (112). Sophia West achieved a spot in the League All Stars, finishing 15th overall and taking more than a minute and a half off her time from the first meet of the season on the same course. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with this talented, spirited, and disciplined group of runners this season. Congratulations and thank you to all for a fantastic 2009 season.