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Volume CXXXII, Number 5 |
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Runnin' with XC
CONOR SAVAGE O'BRIEN & TODD FORSGREN
STAFF WRITERS
The Bowdoin cross country team went on fall break early to compete in the Open New England meet last Friday in Boston's Franklin Park. Moist conditions made the race hard, but it was a perfect opportunity for the seasoned Polar Bears to strut their stuff.
The team finished eleventh in the race of 46 teams. They placed fourth of all Division III teams, just behind Keene State, Williams and Bates.
Scott Barbuto '03 went out hard and proved to have the endurance too. He was the first Polar Bear to finish with a blazing personal best time of 25:04 to come in 35th. This race shows Scott's consistent game over the course of the season - remember, ain't no slowin' that train down!
Three other seniors, Todd Forsgren, Pat Vardaro and Jeff Rubens, came into the shoot next. Starting their race together at a steady cadence, they made their move deep into the event.
At the two-mile mark, the threesome surged forward, out-competing many of the one trick ponies, who'd used up all their cards for the short lived and premature glory of a fast opening. Forsgren's 25:27 was good enough for 55th and Vardaro's 25:29 put him in 59th. Rubens finished in 25:47.
Sophomore Ben Archie Peisch was the only non-senior to run in the varsity race this past weekend. Peisch's youthful energy and exuberance made up for his lack of experience. He rounded out the top five, scoring with a 26:06.
Conor Savage O'Brien was a mere three seconds behind little Ben, and Dan Gulotta '03 only a few seconds behind that, forming a second tight package of Bowdoin runners.
Dan Gulotta was in his element this week. Once Dan gets into a race with nice wet conditions, there is no stopping him. When asked how he felt about the rain clouds that opened up moments before the race started, Gulotta responded "That's the way I like it."
Juniors Scott Herrick and Taylor Washburn rested this past weekend. Both were tired from the vigorous workouts the team had together earlier in the week and from their solid performances at last week's state meet, where they were instrumental in Bowdoin's first place finish. This weekend, the XC squad will be performing on Bowdoin's own Pickard fields for a homecoming meet against alumni and local runners.