Race Results (PDF)

CANTON, NY (October 8, 2011) – The Vassar College women's cross country team made the most of its opportunity to preview the course used for the NCAA Atlantic Regional on November 12. With a strong showing from its complete cadre of runners, the Brewers finished 6th of 17 teams on Saturday at the Hoffmann Atlantic Pre-Regional Invitational hosted by St. Lawrence.

In what head coach James McCowan called “a step in the right direction,” the Brewers finished with 126 points for 6th place in the 6k race. Geneseo placed three runners in the top eight positions to win the 20th running of the annual race with 50 points, followed by host St. Lawrence (69) and Plattsburgh (106) among collegiate entries. The Ottawa Lions Track Club was third (97 points).

“We were more assertive at the beginning and end of the race and as a team the collective energy was in the right direction,” said McCowan. “We were focused and determined in what we were doing and I am quite pleased with our performance today.”

Sophomore Aubree Piepmeier led Vassar across the finish line. She finished 10th overall in a field with 217 runners with a 22:51 effort. Junior Kelly Holmes finished 11th overall, just four seconds behind her teammate (22:55).

“Aubree was very assertive and did a great job today,” said McCowan. “In talking to her after the race, she was a lot happier with her performance today than in previous weeks. She felt like she was active in taking control and making moves at the right time.”

McCowan said Holmes had a similar race to Piepmeier, and was “very active and assertive in her best race of the season.”

Senior Elizabeth Forbes finished third for Vassar and 30th overall in 23:34. Freshman Harper Cleves was next in 37th position (23:52.3), followed by senior Samantha Creath in 38th (23:52.8).

“Harper had a very strong performance and she is still building into shape,” said McCowan. “After an injury, Samantha had her first race back and the time off paid off because she ran a great race. It was exciting to see her performance out there today.”

Vasasr's 6th and 7th finishers were a pair of freshmen, Viviane Ford and Cassady Carpenter. The pair finished in 42nd and 43rd place with 24:00 and 24:04. efforts.

“Two teams that were ahead of us are in striking distance,” said McCowan, referring to Cortland (112 points) and Plattsburgh (106 points).. “We want to close those gaps heading into Seven Sisters and the Liberty League Championships. It shows that the team is still in contention for one of the top spots in the region.

The Brewers will race next Saturday, October 15 at the Seven Sisters Championship at Bryn Mawr (PA) College. Last season, Vassar captured the title for the first time ever, dating back to 1982, the inaugural year of the race.