In their final races before this weekend's Ivy League Heptagonal Championships, members of the Dartmouth men's and women's cross country teams competed at Brown University's Rothenberg Invitational on Oct. 19. The Big Green men, led by individual champion Tony Anzivino '16, took third, while the women took second in wet conditions at Goddard State Park in East Greenwich, R.I.
Anzivino completed the eight-kilometer course in 25:37 for his first collegiate victory, three seconds ahead of Brown freshman Will Sheeran.
"What has made such a difference for me has been the opportunity to train with so many fast guys," Anzivino said. "When you get to train with guys that are better than you, you can't help but get faster yourself."
One of those experienced runners is Matt Pierce '14, who was the second Dartmouth runner across the line, finishing seventh in 25:54. Peter Geithner '16 (12th, 26:01), Will Callan '15 (18th, 26:25) and Matt Klein '16 (23rd, 26:37) rounded out the top five for the Big Green, whose team score of 61 was good for third behind first-place Brown (33) and second-place University of Massachusetts (39). Anzivino was proud of how Dartmouth ran in a race that served as the season finale for several members of the team.
"The team is really just an awesome group of guys, and I am honored to say I am one of them," Anzivino said.
The Dartmouth women surpassed the men, finishing second overall with 32 points, just nine back of winner Boston College. Led by Katelyn Walker '14 who finished second overall in the five-kilometer race in a time of 18:33 the women placed six runners in the top 11. Claudia Pham '15 came in right behind Walker, crossing in 18:34 to finish fourth, while Reid Watson '16 (seventh, 18:46). Arianna Vailas '14 (ninth, 18:50), Meggie Donovan '15 (10th, 18:50) and Ashley Ulrich '15 (11th, 18:53) demonstrated the Big Green's depth, as all crossed within seven seconds of each other.
"No matter what the weather conditions are, it's important to suck it up," Walker said. "A major part of the sport is being mentally tough enough to deal with these issues as they arise."
Traditionally viewed as an individual sport, the team score aspect of cross country allows runners to work with their teammates toward common objectives and goals, rather than focus on individual glory. The Big Green is fully aware of the importance of teamwork, and the runners often find inspiration in running with their teammates.
"We are hoping to really come together as a team," Walker said. "We are all running well individually, but the key to our success as a whole is really our ability to work as a unit."
Dartmouth will count on that teamwork on Saturday as the men's and women's teams travel to Princeton, N.J., for Heps. The Big Green swept both men's and women's individual titles in the freezing rain and snow last season, but both the men (third) and the women (fifth) will be looking to improve on their team performances.
That may be difficult, however, as two of the Big Green's top runners may not toe the line in Princeton. It is unclear whether Abbey D'Agostino '14, who missed the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational on Oct. 12 due to a hip injury, will start. Losing D'Agostino who is not only the defending Heps champion but also the reigning NCAA champion in the 5,000-meter run on the track would be a huge blow to the women, who finished 44th in the 48-team field at Wisconsin and last among Ivy teams without D'Agostino. The University of Pennsylvania was the only Ivy squad not to run in Wisconsin.
Dana Giordano '16 and Hannah Rowe '14, the team's top two finishers at Wisconsin, will be counted on to lead the team, as several other members of the team's top group including Christie Rutledge '16, who has not raced since Sept. 28, and Sarah DeLozier '15 are also battling injuries. No. 7 Cornell University, which won the title a year ago, is heavily favored to defend its crown.
The men also face an injury question, as John Bleday '14, last winter's Heps champion in the 3,000-meter run, sprained his ankle during the race in Wisconsin and did not finish. Bleday has been limited in practice over the past two weeks, and his fate is also uncertain. The Big Green men finished 32nd in the 45-team field at Wisconsin, fourth among the seven Ivy teams. If Bleday doesn't start, Will Geoghegan '14 the team's top finisher in each of its three races this season will be counted on to carry the load up front, with Jonathan Gault '13, Phil Royer '13 and Dylan O'Sullivan '15 providing depth behind him. No. 10 Columbia University enters as the favorites on the men's side after finishing in a tie for fifth at Wisconsin, well ahead of the other six Ivy teams. Two-time defending champion No. 23 Princeton University should also be in the mix and will have home course advantage on Saturday.
"We have worked really hard so far this season," Anzivino said. "Above all else, though, I have faith that all our hard work will pay off, especially now as our championship season gets underway."
Gault is a member of The Dartmouth Senior Staff. Ulrich is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
