Cross-Country Races At New England NCAAs

The 1999 NCAA New England Division III Regional Cross-Country Championships at UMASS Dartmouth for the Trinity Cross-Country teams was a day of broken personal records for some and a solid way to end the 1999 racing season for many.

The Trinity Men's team placed 8th overall, with the women coming in 17th. "It was a mix of a lot of things," said Junior Todd Marklez of Homer, AK, speaking of the shocking 14th place position he earned in a time of 25:07. "The [previous] racing and the training all kind of came together. I felt that coach had prepared us on that day, and it helped out a lot to have so many people there which kept me going during the race."

Markelz is one of a very few runners in the New England league representing the region at the NCAA National Cross-Country Championships next weekend on an individual basis because of his placing performance in this weekend's race.

Also placing in the top 35 for the men was freshman runner Jim Emord of Bridgewater, MA flying into the chute with a personal record of 25:39. Emord, who placed a 28th position for Trinity, attributed his race to running smart, feeling good, and most of all, "having a good group of fans that day." Indeed, the fans were in full force that day, with such veteran harriers as Caleb Sayan '00 and Matt Wong '00 making appearances. Placing 40th for Trinity was Ryan Bak '03 of Suffield, CT just slipping under the 26 minute barrier at 25:52. He was followed by Ryan Lerner '03 of Manchester, CT who raced well with a time of 26:34.

Senior Andrew Malick of Piedmont, CA, outsprinted a Springfield College runner down the homestretch and into the finishing chute with a solid time and personal record of 26:46. This was an excellent end to Malick's career as a Trinity harrier, who had in this season been dropping his times from the first race to the last. Malick will go on to focus his running talents in the Steeplechase and 3,000 meter in the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. The next runner for Trinity was Co-Captain David Kyle ('00) of Topsfield, MA coming in at 26:48. Freshman Steve Coakley of South Windsor, CT raced his way in for the Bantams that day with a solid time of 27:25.

In the Women's race, the Trinity pack was led by Sophomore Caroline Leary of Bedford, MA hot-footing it across the line in the 48th spot at a personal record of 19:03. Leary attributed her quality race to good course conditions and keeping her eye on the runners ahead of her.

Second for Trinity, with a 19:14, was freshman Leeann Rheaume of Pittsfield, MA, coming in 8 places after Leary, at the 56th spot. Next to arrive under the 20 minute barrier by a single second at 19:59 was Kate Klein '03 of Huntington, VT placing 96th overall for the Lady Bants. Not long after was Senior Co-Captain Kara Barbalunga of Dalton, MA, a runner known for her discipline and considered by her teammates as "one of the most inspiring people to run with." Barbalunga finished off her cross-country career with a solid time of 20:09. Freshman Sarah Hackett of Stonington, CT flew into the chutes with a time of 20:45 and was followed not long after by Wezowicz of Longmeadow, MA with a personal best of 21:08. She said of her race, 'I feel that this was my best race in years... it was flat, cold, and we tapered perfectly." Senior Megan Dunphy of Seattle, WA in a show of pure drive, decided to run her last race of her Cross-Country career regardless of two nagging leg injuries, finishing off her successful personal-record dropping season. The Trinity women placed 17th overall.

It's been a quality season for the Bantam Harriers. For the men, Wesleyan was trounced in a tri-meet for the first time since World War II. For the women, it was a season to give new runners some racing experience at the college level that will pay off in dividends down the road, and give more senior runners a chance to whittle down their personal records.

For one, this is still not over. The sole Trinity Bantam, Todd Markelz, will be toeing the line for Trinity as well as representing the New England region in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin at the NCAA National Cross-Country Championships next weekend on November 20th.

Coach Suitor and the entire Cross-Country team will be behind Markelz all the way as he battles in Wisconsin against the nation's top collegiate runners looking to bring a top placing trophy back to Hartford.