The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ted Sullivan In the closest finish in the history of the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, the Middlebury women's team edged out Amherst to take the top prize. The Panthers were paced by Alexander Krieg '09, who finished eighth overall. Krieg, Andrea Giddings '07 and Erin Archard '07 earned All-American honors while Jimmy Butcher '08 was honored with All-American status on the men's side. [Click to enlarge]

Muddy conditions in West Chester, Ohio slowed the overall pace but could not stop the Middlebury women's cross country team from winning its fourth NCAA Championship on Nov. 18.

In the closest finish in the history of the Division III NCAA Cross Country Championships, the Middlebury women edged out NESCAC foe Amherst 144-145 and gave the College its 27th national title in the past 12 years. The scores were posted at 12:45 p.m., but the win was not official until the Panthers waited-out the standard 30-minute protest period. No teams filed a complaint and the Panthers had the title.

Alexandra Krieg '09 - who finished just behind seniors Andrea Giddings and Erin Archard in most races this season - saved her best race for last and finished 8th overall to lead the Panthers.

"Although the weather was clear, the course was extremely wet and became increasingly muddy as people ran on it," said Krieg, who was the highest placing underclassmen at the NCAA event. "It felt like running through wet sand because the mud was so deep. Each step took extra energy."

With mud six to eight inches deep in some sections of the course, every stride was grueling and the results showed. Willamette's Sarah Zerzan, the individual winner at the NCAAs, recorded an average mile time of 6:16 a pace that was 30 seconds slower than the winning time at the NCAA regionals.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools