Invitational Results

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 4, 2010) – Running under what head coach James McCowan called the “best conditions we've had in the last six years,” the Vassar College women's cross country team started the 2010 season as it has for the last four years: Finishing first in the annual XC Invitational. 

Vassar's fifth straight championship was an impressive performance. 

The Brewers literally and figuratively ran away from a 10-team field with 15 points, taking the first five scoring points and placing seven runners in the top nine. SUNY New Paltz finished second (49), followed by Mount St. Mary (103), Nyack (128), and Bard (147) among the top five finishers. 

Just as the race began, a cloud cover obscured the bright sunshine that preceded in the men's race, and it seemed to energize the Brewers who swept the first five places, led by junior Johanna Spangler, who won the race for the second straight year with a 19:25 time. Spangler cruised through the 5K race this year, bettering her sophomore time of 20:14 while running the last mile alone. “It's hard sometimes to push yourself when you don't have anyone to pace you," Spangler said after the race. “But I had good momentum going into the last mile because we ran together as a pack for the first 2k and sped up the race after that.” 

That group-running formula yielded great benefits for Vassar. Junior Elizabeth Forbes finished second in a strong time of 19:49. “I felt good, but I was a little nervous before the race because I didn't run cross country all last season,” Forbes explained. “Coach (McCowan) had a game plan for us to run as a pack and we accomplished that. Throughout the race we had strong communication and it was exciting to win the championship on our own course.” 

Running in her first-ever collegiate race, freshman Aubree Piepmeier placed third (19:52), senior Zoe Carpenter in fourth (20:15) and sophomore Kelly Holmes in fifth place (20:20). Sophomore Stephanie Malek finished sixth for Vassar (20:42) and freshman Chloe Williams was seventh in her first race (20:44). That group kept together throughout the Vassar Farm course, never deviating off strategy or pushing the pace too fast for the first race of the season.

“I may say this every year, but it's true: this race isn't about time,” explained McCowan. “Today was about running together and then getting people to push harder in the last mile. Our team is not at full strength yet, but when we get everyone together I believe we'll have the fastest team in the history of Vassar cross country.” 

McCowan was quick to describe the effort as a “team victory,” but was immensely pleased with the opening meet performance of freshman Piepmeier and the effort of sophomore Malek, who he said may have turned in the “most improved performance in the history of the Invitational.” Last season she finished 28th in the race as Vassar's 14th finisher with a 22:47 time. On Saturday, she was Vassar's sixth finisher in 20:42. "It's hard to pick out one runner from this race because the entire team had an exceptional meet," said McCowan.

Spangler, meanwhile, had a typically strong performance, one that was carefully orchestrated. “Johanna was part of the pack that pulled away in the last 1.5 miles,” said McCowan. “We wanted her to be consistent and push it out at the end, which she did. Johanna's on the right track.” 

The Brewers will have a week off before returning to competition at NCAA Pre-Regional race at Oneonta on September 18. The break, according to Spangler, will serve the team well. 

“Having a full two weeks before we race again will be good for the team,” said Spangler. “It will give us a good amount of rest and recuperation and training time and have a nice build up to a race that will feel meaningful and important.”