Men and Women set different goals

Last year, the team finished first at the ECACs and the H-Y-P meet, but only fourth at the Heptagonals, the event which determines the Ivy League champion. Duff said the team has learned its lesson. "We don't want to be the stars of September that fade in November," she said. "We need to be strong now and sharp as we go along."

Ariana Kelly, MC '99, who finished 40th at the NCAA championships last year, returns along with Duff, Deirdre Brill, TC '99, and Nancy Wolcott, BR '01. All expect to be major contributors this season.

The women had a preseason training camp at Duff's house in Maryland. Each day, they lifted weights, did some cross-training, long runs, and "awkward running," which is running in a pool.

The men had a similar training camp at Ryan Eckel's, TC '00, Vermont cottage. In past years, it had only been a few days. Captain Alex Zemek, DC '99, decided to extend this year's camp to a full week. "It was probably the best training trip I've been on yet," Zemek said. The team took several long runs on the Appalachian trails, he added. "And we all were successful in water skiing even though it was our first time."

Despite the experience in Vermont, Zemek, the team's only senior, is realistic about the season. "We're hindered by having a very small team," he said. The Bulldogs have just 13 runners on their roster, which allows for 18. Coach Steve Bartold said he hopes for "a positive season" from his runners after they finished dead last in the Ivy League last year. "I'd like to say we could finish in the top half of the league," he said.

--Matt Matros

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