Wellesley Cross Country started off strong in September, notching a team win at the Smith Invitational, followed by high placings at two large invitationals, the UMass Dartmouth Shriners meet (11th out of 42 teams) and the Codfish Bowl in Boston's Franklin Park (7th out of 23 teams).
In October's first competition, the Blue celebrated Family and Friends Weekend by capturing the team title at the rain-soaked Gordon College Invitational, prevailing over 26 teams in front of an admiring crowd of Wellesley parents and friends. First-year Randelle Boots was the top individual finisher at Gordon, placing first among 290 runners with a fast time of 18:55 for the 3.05-mile course. At the Open New Englands in Franklin Park on Columbus Day weekend, Wellesley finished a respectable 27th out of 49 teams from Divisions I, II and III, placing second among the eight NEWMAC teams that were represented.
The following weekend, the team scored its biggest win, taking the Seven Sisters title for the first time since 2005, and placing all five scorers in the top ten. Named to the All-Seven Sisters team (top ten finishers) were Randelle Boots '13 (3rd place), Claire Cummings '13 (5th), Cristina Lucas (7th), Camille Basurto '13 (8th) and Clare Egan '10 (10th). Twenty Wellesley runners went to the starting line at Seven Sisters, making for a very intimidating Blue presence!
Next up is the Wellesley Invitational on Oct. 24th, followed by the NEWMAC Championship, to be hosted by Wellesley on the 31st in Franklin Park. Then it's on to November, which means Regionals in Cumberland, Maine on Nov. 14, and -- subject to qualification -- Nationals on the 21st in Cleveland, Ohio!