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NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Franklin Park, Boston Friday, October 17, 1997
Women 5017 meters Men 7935 meters
Computerized Timing and Scoring By:
SPITLER RACE SYSTEMS
Steve Vaitones
Men's Varsity
Men's JV
Women's Varsity
Women's JV
Four races were contested at the New England Intercollegiate Championships
at Franklin Park in Boston. It was the 85th edition for the men, all at the
park, while the women contested their 23 title run. Both divisions also
held a JV race, giving nearly 1000 runners a chance to test the classic course.
The women took to the line first, as the 40 entered teams supplied spirited competition under
ideal weather conditions (60's and sunny) on a firm and fast course in the
mid-day race at Boston's Franklin Park.
The individual players made their positions known as they approached the mile.
A 5:08 split could be credited to Jenna Rogers of Dartmouth, Angela Graham of
Boston College, and Sarah Dupre of Providence. Circuit two did not clarify
the situation, as the 10:52 for Rogers and Graham put them a few strides
ahead of Dupre. However, but the time they re-emerged for the final lap
around Playstead Field, it was clearly the BC runner's race. The Canadian,
who has earned all-American honors on the track, strode to her first
harrier title in 16:53. Fellow Canadian Dupre chased her home in 16:59, as
Rogers, the 1996 runner-up dropped a spot to third this time (17:04).
The 261 finishers appear to be the most ever for this event.
Team trophy went to Providence with 45 points, repeating their 1996 win and
giving them a most-ever eight wins in the 23 year meet history.
Through three team scorers, it was anyone's race, as the top trio accounted
for all but one of the first 11 finishers. But Providence placed their 4th
at tenth, and 5th at 19, to give them the edge in depth.
Ranked Division III teams Middlebury and Williams were not able to leave
with any edge on the other, tying for 11th spot.
In the men's feature, a large lead pack hammered out the first mile on a firm
and dry course in 4:35 (a tumble and pile-up at about 1200 meters had taken
several frontrunners out of contention, including Maine's Dereck Treadwell).
Completing two miles, Travis Landreth of Connecticut had moved to a small
four second lead over his persuers (9:28-9:32), and when he returned from
the first Wilderness loop that lead had increased to a solid 50 meters.
But as he came to the right turn required to bring him around to the
3 mile/5K mark, the UConn senior inexplicably turned left instead of right
(possibly due to the fact that some course maps distributed in packets were
incorrect).
(the course run today was the standard 8K used for all level of races during
the past three years). After righting his direction and heading to the close
of lap 3 (5017m in 14:56) BU's Karl Rasmussen had moved to a position just 5
meters down. Heading into the fourth and final lap, Landreth again was confused
at a split in the roadways, but Rasmussen came up on his shoulder and steered
him the correct way into the Wilderness. The two were lock-step through and
past the 4 mile mark, reached in 19:10, as they then disappeared for the
final ascent up Bear Cage Hill. BU's Matt Smith and Rob Mitchell of Amherst
were about 100 meters down in a race for third position.
The extra effort, physical and mental, must have taken its toll on the
early leader as the red-clad Rasmussen was first back onto the field and
then added a bit more over the final 200 meters to secure the New
England Championship title in a strong 23:38. It was the Norwegian's third
NE harrier crown, though the last one goes back to his sophomore year in
1994.
Landreth finished a dejected second, yet with a creditable 23:44 clocking.
Mitchell, last year's New England indoor mile champ and better known for his
middle distance prowess, kicked to bronze i n24:05 with Smith 4 seconds back.
The team title went to Brown University, who bunched their five scorers into
the top 23. The win was the first NE XC title for the Bruins since 1967.
Top DIII squad was Brandeis, eighth in the 36 team field.
All New England squads except Yale opted to race here rather than at the
IC4A meet this weekend.
