For Immediate Release
September 27, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Wellesley College Cross Country Competes at Purple Valley Classic
Results
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – With a majority of the cross country team taking an "off" weekend, a small squad of seven Wellesley College runners traveled to Williams College for the 6-kilometer Purple Valley Classic. It was the Blue's first look at the course that will serve as the venue for November's New England Division III Regional Championship.
Running against a strong field which included five nationally-ranked Div. III teams as well as Ivy League power Dartmouth College, Wellesley placed 12th out of 18 scoring teams with 360 points, just behind rival Smith College (11th, 270 points) and ahead of Mt. Holyoke (13th, 391 points).
Competing in her first-ever 6K race and only her second collegiate cross country race, first year flash Cailey Stevens (Wareham, MA) led all Wellesley finishers, placing 77th out of 179 competitors with a time of 25:40. Close behind was senior co-captain Kate Watson (Olympia, WA) in 80th place (25:43). Senior Jessica Weng (Paramus, NJ) struggled in the unseasonably warm and muggy conditions, but held on to finish as Wellesley's third scorer in 91st (25:58).
Rounding out the team scoring for the Blue were junior Karyn Clements (Cobleskill, NY) (112th, 26:41) and sophomore Katie Sheahon (Kansas City, MO) (135th, 28:02). Wellesley's two other participants, Katie Gosling '10 and Ashley Muller '10, were unable to complete the race due to last-minute illness and injury.
Wellesley will next compete at the Pop Crowell Invitational at Gordon College on Saturday, October 4th. The Blue won the 2007 edition and will be looking to defend their team title.