Nate Krah '08 described it as "quicksand," Ken Akiha '08 called it "soup," and John Hall '08 said it was "almost comical." Regardless of how they described the muddiness of the 2006 Cross-Country National Championship, Bowdoin's top seven runners grinded through ridiculous terrain to capture 17th place out of the 32 teams at the meet.
The runners ran on the course the day before the race to get a feel for the route.
Krah had heard "the course was going to be muddy," but sloshing around the course on the Friday before the big meet, Krah said he "couldn't have imagined how bad the course conditions" were going to be.
After checking out the course, the team selected one-half inch spikes for the race?longer spikes than some of the runners had worn in their entire lives.
Krah described the beginning of the race as a "free-for-all" with everyone going out at their own pace.
Archie Abrams '09 and Hall finished first and second for the Bowdoin squad in 27:28 and 28:12, respectively, earning 24th and 68th places overall. Co-captain Owen McKenna '07, Krah, and Tim Katlic '08 rounded out the top five, finishing 79th, 194th, and 247th overall.
First-year Thompson Ogilvie twisted his ankle in the first mile and made it to the fourth mile before he was encouraged to stop.
Entering the meet ranked 17th nationally, the team actually finished 17th. Michigan's Calvin College took first place.
"Going to XC Nationals as a team was one of the most significant athletic experiences of my life," said Hall. "My mental preparation involved visualizing myself having fun running in the mud, and that attitude definitely helped during the race.
"Our biggest team strength is our depth," he added. "We have a very tight pack of men, and if we all stay healthy and become faster I think we can accomplish great things again next year."
With only one member of the top seven graduating this year, the team's prospects look exciting.
That one senior, McKenna, reflected with nostalgia on his Bowdoin cross-country experience.
"I am supremely proud of the team and what it has accomplished this season," he said. "The men on the team are some of the greatest people that I have ever met and I am looking forward to following their success next season."