Women's cross country captures fifth NCAA title

Author: Peter Baumann

No one is quite sure how to define a dynasty. While certain transcendent eras, such as that of the UCLA Bruins in the 1970s, undoubtedly qualify, others are less obvious - with often amorphous beginnings and uncertain ends. But by whatever standard one uses, we can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Middlebury women's cross country team is at the peak of a dynastic period. Including this year the team has now won five of the last nine NCAA championships, capturing the most recent title by an unheard-of margin of 59 points.

It is difficult to characterize the team's 2008 season. On one hand, the team ushered in a new age by relying heavily on youth. Easily the most dominant team at the majority of the meets, the Panthers enjoyed their success on the backs of first and second year runners. Of the seven runners Middlebury took to the NCAA Championship meet, only one was an upperclassman.

"Normally coaches want teams with upperclassmen, who have had the experience of running in previous NCAA Championship meets and have developed the broad endurance base to allow them to build a high and stable peak," said coach Terry Aldrich when asked about his young team. "What our first-years and sophomores did was truly amazing."

Any time a team enjoys such vibrant results from its young runners, however, there is usually a strong contingent of senior leadership showing them the way to success. This year's Panthers were no different.

Tri-captains Hallie Fox '09, Alexandra Krieg '09 and Charlotte Bemis '09 led both on and off the course. From providing their younger teammates with insight into strategy and mental toughness to helping set the pace, the three captains were vitally important in taking a group of young, talented runners and molding them into national champions.

Despite the immense promise encouraged by the youth of this year's championship team, the loss of Krieg will be a tough blow for a program that has leaned on her from her first semester on campus when she finished 94th at the national meet. She went on to run at NCAAs all four years, following her first year performance with 10th, 3rd and 6th place finishes.

Not usually prone to superlatives, coach Aldrich is effusive in his praise for Krieg.

"Alexandra has clearly established herself as one of the best runners in Middlebury's history," he said. "To have that kind of consistency in a race of the magnitude of the NCAA championships is truly incredible. There is no way to replace someone of her ability."

His sentiment is one echoed by the younger members of the team.

"I cannot say enough about how privileged I feel to have run on a team with Alexandra," said Hannah Meier '11, who finished second for the Panthers, 39th overall. "She is an awesome role model in her dedication to training and the passion she has for running. I think that every team needs someone to look up to like Alexandra, who has immense natural talent but also works really hard to see how far she can take that talent."

While the team will truly miss Krieg, her hard work over the last four years has helped to lay a foundation for a program that seems to be growing rather than falling. Elise Moody-Roberts '12, Claire McIlvennie '12 and Margo Cramer '12 all finished in the top 100 at the NCAA meet, meaning that over half of Middlebury's scorers were first years.

The promise of competing for a national championship year-in and year-out can only help Middlebury entice the top student-athletes that the team already attracts.

"Because of Middlebury's academic reputation, beautiful campus, outstanding facilities, and geographic location, we normally see large numbers of runners interested in our team," said Aldrich. "Hopefully this success will lead to even faster student-athletes who are also academically qualified."

For now, as dynastic expectations and debates swirl about the cross-country program, team members happy to recognize themselves as part of one of the most successful teams Middlebury has fielded in any sport over the last decade. Beating second-place Calvin College by 59 points - when only 47 points separated the second- through fourth-place teams - validated the expectations generated by having such a talented group of young runners and such stable senior leadership.

"I think that is what I will remember most in ten years," said Krieg, "the feeling of transcending myself as an individual and representing and running for something greater. I'll always be able to run, but I think that almost-spiritual connection with my teammates is special."

While losing Krieg, Fox, Bemis and the other seniors will be difficult, the Panthers will return to campus next fall hungry for another shot at glory. Constantly refreshing itself with good recruiting, this is one dynasty that will refuse to run off into the sunset.