Volume CXXXIII, Number 14 February 1, 2002 f

Faculty dash and fall
JAMES FISHER
ORIENT STAFF

The frenzied cheering of the dozens of spectators packed into Farley Field House propelled Peter Slovenski across the finish line in just under 7.5 seconds. His opponents could only express their disappointment as Slovenski eked out an upset victory in Tuesday's middle-aged faculty 55-meter dash championship.

Slovenski, Bowdoin's Men's and Women's Track and Field coach, snatched the title from the hands of defending champion Paul Franco, government professor. Jill Pearlman, Environmental studies professor and Franco's wife, noted that at the last race several years ago, "Paul was wearing blue jeans. Coach Slovenski was wearing sweats. He was devastated when he lost." This time, all three contestants wore runner's shorts and Bowdoin racing jerseys, and could be seen warming up for several minutes before the gun went off. "I'm a little embarrassed to be wearing these shorts," said Franco.

A surprise late entry into the race was Physics professor Dale Syphers, who explained that his motivation for running was that "I finished lab early enough." Syphers finished third with a time of 8:59, while Slovenski's lead over Franco was razor-thin- 7:47 to 7:48. The chief finish judge, Government and Asian Studies professor Henry Laurence, admitted to less than complete impartiality before the race: "I'm rooting for the winner, and anyone who's on my tenure committee," he said.

The competitors agreed to a restart after Franco stumbled and fell in the first few meters of the original sprint. "I was a little overexcited," Franco said of his spill. "I'm not sure if it was Coach [Slovenski's] leg that tripped me." None of the finish judges publicly noted any foul play.

At the prize ceremony, also held in Farley Field House, Laurence presented Slovenski with the championship cup. The sleek black coffee mug was printed with the words "I'm not over the hill, I'm on a roll."