Women’s Cross Country at Williams
The women’s team has likewise become a force in New England and the nation. In the past 23 years they have won the New England Division III Championships 8 times and finished runner-up 9 more. The team has qualified 20 consecutive years for the NCAA Championship, recording 12 top-5 finishes. The program was initiated in 1976 with Bud Fisher as head coach and sent its first NCAA qualifiers in 1981: All-Americans Sue Marchant (14th) and Liz Martineau (22nd) led the way. Fisher coached 1976-77 and 1980-86 seasons, with Doug Armstrong filling in during 1978 and 1979. Larry Bell coached 1987-1990, Rob Colantuono 1991-1992, Monica Egbuonu 1993-1995, and Kristen Morwick 1996-1999. In 1990 five individual Ephs qualified for the NCAA, and then created a team score at nationals good enough for 3rd: Rebecca Adams ’93 12th, Cherie Macauley ’92 20th, Anne Bokman ’91 23rd, Anne Platt ’91 27th and Lindley Hall ’93 64th. In 1995, sophomore Jessica Caley bested the entire field at Nationals to become Division III NCAA Individual Champion. She also won the All New England title that season. In 2000, under the direction of Pete Farwell for the first time, the women enjoyed one of their bests season in history, culminating with a 2nd place finish at the Division III NCAA Championships: Joey Shapiro ’01 led the way with a 3rd place finish overall, with Courtney Bennigson ’01 and current co-captain Julia Bensen ’03 also earning All-American honors. The team followed that up with another runner-up finish at NCAAs in 2001, led by All-Americans Jenn Campbell ’05 (3rd) and Bensen (6th).
2002 found the Ephwomen on top of nearly every meet, sweeping 3 Invitationals, the NESCAC conference, ECAC, New England III region, and finally NCAA national titles! Co-Captain Bensen was joined up front again by Campbell and first-years Caroline Cretti and Michelle Rorke. With much improved Katie Marsh ’05 as 5th runner, the team racked up 5 All-American slots (11-7-5-6-33 respectively). Cretti was the top First Year at nationals, and was named conference and region athlete of the year for her wins at those meets. Bensen became Williams’ first ever female 3-time x-country All-American. The 2004 squad had a superior final race to wrest the NCAA title away from Middlebury by a 110-129 margin, as Campbell and Cretti went 3-4 for the Ephs. Campbell completed her xc career with 4 All-American placings, the first Williams harrier, male or female, to accomplish that feat. The ‘Second Seven’ won the ECAC title for the 3rd consecutive year. Cretti capped her astounding career in 2005 with her 4th New England regional individual title, and a 6th place NCAA finish to a lead the team to a runner-up NCAA finish after a convincing New England title. Also garnering All-American status were Rorke (14th), Liz Gleason ’08 (12th) and Mallory Harlin (28th). Rachel Asher ’09 led the 2006 team to 3rd in conference and region, and then 8th at Nationals, as she placed 31st and All-American. 2008 found the Ephs once again climbing the podium at Nationals led by Lauren Philbrook ’09 All-American in 19th place with a tight three-pack of Robin Kuntz ’09, Meghan Shea ’11 and Bret Scofield ’10 in 68-73-79 respectively, putting the team in 3rd place!
2009 was another successful year for the lady Ephs, taking 2nd in conference, 3rd in the region, and 8th at nationals. Top finisher in the NCAA meet was Jennifer Gossels ’13 in 49th with Olga Kondratjeva ’10 and Elly Teitsworth ’10 close on her heels in 57th and 82nd. In 2010 Gossels led the way with victories in the NESCAC (backed up by Annie Dear ’13 in 4th) and regionals (as Lauren Goldstein-Kral ’12 was 10th) while the team placed 2nd in each, and then went on to a runner-up national finish as the team packed in to place 5th.
2011 found Chiara Del Piccolo at the head of the pack winning NESCAC, Regional, and finally National individual titles. The team won NESCAC with Olivia Delia ’11 in 5th and Anna Spiers in 7th, and capped off the season by earning a 3rd place team trophy at the NCAA’s as Alison Smith ’15 was Williams’ second finisher in All-American 33rd place position. 2012’s edition of the Lady Eph harriers took their fifth consecutive Little Three title led by Smith in 2nd. The team again won NESCAC as Kaleigh Kenny ’14, Brianne Mirecki ’14, and Adrienne Strait ’15 swept 3rd, 4th, and 5th places. Kenny and Strait went 3-4 at the regionals, leading the team to a runner-up finish and automatic qualifier to Nationals. At that final championship they each earned All-American honors, in 16th and 28th places. There are now 25 different Williams women who have become Cross Country All-Americans.
The 2013 team returned 6 of the top 7, to form another talented and deep squad that carried on the success of Williams women’s cross country and peaked when it counted, finishing 2nd at the NCAA Division III Championship. Kaleigh Kenny capped her cross career finishing 3rd and freshman Hannah Cole started her nationals career finishing in 29th.
The 2014 team returns veteran leaders and adds talented first years. 2014 promises to be a fun-filled and success-filled season!