The Bowdoin Men's Cross-Country Team toed the starting line of the Maine State Championships with a lot on the line last Saturday.
To its left and right stood the best competition the Pine Tree State has to offer, but five miles ahead lay the finish line and the chance for the team's third consecutive victory at this event. As the runners waited for the sound of the gun, they knew that if they could only endure the toil of the hills, the speed of the flats, and the pressure of the eight other schools, the title of state champion would be theirs.
Nate Krah '08 and Thompson Ogilvie '10 got out to a quick lead. But the race was long and arduous, and after three miles, only Krah and Curtins Wheeler of the University of Southern Maine jockeyed for the first position.
With 800 meters to go and only one hill in the way of the finish, Krah summoned what strength remained to attack the elevation and surged into first place.
Wheeler, a miler known for his sprint speed, sat behind until the final meters, when he overtook Krah and finished with a lead of less than three seconds.
Cross country is a team sport, however, and it would take more than one first place runner to claim an overall victory.
With the state championship at stake, Bowdoin showcased its remarkable depth in the race, finishing five runners in the top 10 and eight in the top 15.
Senior John Hall recovered from a slow start with a stellar final two miles that brought him to third place. Behind Hall were Ogilvie in sixth and senior Ken Akiha in ninth.
"By the middle of the race we had five of our guys in the front pack, which really helped keep everyone relaxed, knowing that we were in good team position," said Akiha. "From there, Nate [Krah] really opened up the race by pushing the pace, which he is usually not comfortable doing, but he looked great out there."
In the end, the points were tallied, and with 33 points, 10 ahead of USM, the title belonged to the Polar Bears.
The story of the race and the season has been that of the exceptional senior class of Hall, Krah, Tyler Lonsdale, Akiha, Tim Katlic, and Pat Pierce, who have claimed the state championship in three of their four years at Bowdoin.
"2008 is a special group of guys," said Hall. "We've put it all out there for four years, and it's rewarding for all the hard work to pay off."
The runners now look ahead to the NESCAC Championship Meet at Williams on October 27.