WATERFORD, CT - Even with the team's top 12 runners resting in preparation for championship season, the Jumbo men's cross country team was able to take sixth-place of 22 teams at the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday.
It was nearly perfect racing weather on the waterfront course, which allowed many competitors to post some impressive times. As the last meet of the season for most of Tufts squad, the Jumbos looked to set new personal-bests and end the season on a high note.
They certainly rose to the occasion, as the Jumbos' top five finishers all lowered their best times by substantial margins en route to the team's sixth-place finish. Division I UConn took the team title with 86 points. Connecticut College and Keene State rounded out the top three with 145 and 147 points respectively. The only other teams to beat Tufts' score of 190 were SUNY Oneonta with 152 and Gwynedd Mercy (PA) with 173.
Leading the way for the Jumbos was sophomore Joseph St. Pierre (Manchester, NH), who crossed the line 28th in a time of 26:13 over the eight-kilometer course. One minute and twenty seconds ahead of St. Pierre was race-winner Ryan McGuire of UConn whose time of 24:53 bested the 233-man field.
The next three finishers for Tufts finished within two seconds of each other. Sophomore Greg Hardy (Barnstable, MA) clocked a time of 26:23 to place 35th overall. First-year Michael Curley (Attleboro, MA) and sophomore Colin McCrory (Southbury, CT) finished 37th and 39th respectively in identical times of 26:24.
Knocking one minute off his personal-best was first-year James Traester (Amherst, MA) who recorded a time of 26:34, good enough for 51st overall and fifth for the Jumbos. Rounding out Tufts' top seven were senior Luke Maher (Carmel, NY) and sophomore Sam Garfield (Holland, PA). Maher placed 78th overall in 26:57, while Garfield was six seconds back in 84th.
The fact that the Jumbos, without their top 12 runners, were able to place sixth in the field of 22 teams from all over the northeast is a testament to the depth and talent of this year's team. Even more impressive, six of Tufts' top seven runners on Saturday were freshmen or sophomores, so the future certainly looks bright for this squad.
For the Jumbos' top 12 runners, attention now shifts to the post-season, which begins with the NESCAC Championship on Oct. 27 at Bowdoin College.
Race results
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