Motivated by a large crowd of parents, alumni and other athletes, the women's cross-country team finished second behind Colby at the State Championship. There were 400 spectators in attendance on the final straightaway waiting for Carolyn Baskir '14, the first Bowdoin runner to cross the line.
"It was incredible to have so many fans cheering us on. On every corner, there was an encouraging voice," said runner Madelena Rizzo '14. "I think I speak for the whole team when I say that the presence [of the crowd] had a real positive impact on our performances."
The majority of the team was impressed not only with its overall performance, but members' personal achievements as well.
"I was proud of my own race. I had a strong finish and that mattered more to me than place and time," said Rizzo, who passed a runner on the last straightaway.
"I was really happy with my personal performance as well as [with] the team's," said Grace Kerr '11. "Considering the fact that [Colby] is highly ranked, it is impressive that they were within our reach."
Coach Peter Slovenski was proud of the team's efforts and said that Colby sets a high standard for women's cross-country. In the latest New England poll, Bowdoin is ranked No. 9 and Colby, No. 5.
"We know that if we want to be a top five team at the regional, then we will have to match or pass Colby," he said. "I think we can do it later in the season if our training tactics come together for the championship in November. Colby has more depth than we do, so we will have to make up for it in some other ways."
Lindsey Horowitz '12 believes that its performance at the State Championship is proof of the team's potential.
"[We did run well] but we will begin to do even better as the championship season unfolds and the 6K races take place of the 5K," she said.
The next race, the NESCAC championship that will include four nationally ranked teams, is on October 30 at Hamilton College.
"A top-five finish in NESCAC would be a good day," said Coach Slovenski. "But one of these weekends we'll be ready to break into the NESCAC top four and the NCAA top-25."
Christina Argueta '11, one of the three team captains, is looking forward to these next two weeks.
"While everyone had strong races, we know that each of us has more in us. Hopefully [our determination] will propel us forward in the final part of the season," she said. "We are looking forward to two more weeks of solid training and to the change in workouts that accompanies the championship season. Then it's on to the championship."