Volume CXXXII, Number 4 October 4, 2002 f

Bowdoin Women Going the Distance
GRACE CHO
STAFF WRITER

What effect does an extra 1000 meters have in a cross country running race? Apparently none, judging by the results of the Bowdoin Women's Cross Country team this past weekend. By placing sixteenth as a team against mainly Division I competition, the women who ran the hilly Van Cortland Park course made it look easy.

The Iona Invitational was the first race where the Bowdoin women ran the new official race distance of six kilometers. Traditionally, all qualifying and postseason races for women running cross country in Division III were five kilometers.

However, last spring Division III coaches and NCAA members decided to change the race distance from five to six kilometers in following the footsteps of both Division I and II.

Senior captain Bre McKenna recalls a little anxiety from race morning, "I think most of us were a little nervous running a longer distance considering cross country is all about putting every bit of oneself on the course and the prospect of running 1000 meters more seems challenging to say the least."

Still the women never appeared intimidated by the additional kilometer they were about to face when stepping out on the line on Saturday. Head coach Peter Slovenski was able to notice that immediately. When looking over the team he saw, "everyone in the line up had the poise and strength to make a success out of our first 6k race."

Nor did the women appear nervous about racing top ranked Division I schools. "It was incredible to be lined up at the start boxed next to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Missouri, and so many other top DI teams from around the country," said Junior Kala Hardacker.

Co-captain Libby Barney added, "We definitely showed people that Bowdoin XC can run with the Division I schools."

For parents' weekend the Bowdoin women will be heading to Bates for the Maine State Meet of Champions. Senior captain Libby Barney has already made her predictions about the meet.

"This weekend's state meet will be a great experience, as it will be the first time that our whole team runs together this season.

If we run intelligently this weekend, we will be able to repeat as Maine
State Champions."