Meet Results (PDF)

WINNECONE, WI (November 19, 2011) – For the second year in a row and third time the last four years, the Vassar College women's cross country team qualified a runner for the NCAA Division III National Championships. On Saturday, junior Kelly Holmes continued that legacy, competing at the meet hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and run on the Lake Breeze Golf Course.

Holmes finished the 6k race in 23:22 and in 227th place. She had had splits of 5:54 for the first mile, 12:17 after the second, 18:50 following the third and her final time of 23:22

Similar to last year's national championship race, a false start called all competitors back to the start.  Head coach James McCowan suggested that the recall cooled Holmes down on an already cold afternoon. Temperatures at race time were 38 degrees with a bitter chill.

“Kelly got out to a decent start, but the recall did have an affect on her,” said McCowan. “She had a hard time warming back up and when the race started again she got boxed out and buried in the pack.”

After the first mile, McCowan said Holmes was 211th among competitors, making it hard to move up through the pack. “In the end she finished 227, but had a great kick past several runners,” said McCowan. “The main thing is that Kelly got to nationals, and anytime you do that, it's icing on the cake. She's had a great season and she deserved to be here. I believe that her experience running in a meet of this caliber with the type of competitors she ran against will provide a great experience to bring back to her teammates next season. They'll be able to learn from her trip to nationals and it will be a very positive message for our program.”