TUXC Makes It Two in a Row at Alumni Run

(9/4/2004) See more Photos     Full Results

It was a hot, sunny day for the 13th annual Alumni Run. With the temperature in the lower 80s a mass of new, veteran, and past Jumbos converged on the newly mowed hayfield. Grafton, hated by some, loved by almost no one, will mark yet the start of another cross-country season. Both the men and women's team showed up in healthy numbers, as nearly 100 runners towed the line this year.

Trying to continue with their momentum from two years ago, three alum, Ben Smith, James Lamoureux, and the ever present Aristidez Cruz, quickly took a 10 meter lead over the pack of upperclassmen about a half mile in. By the mile marker it was clear that the alum were not going to be able to go the distance with this strategy. After coming through the mile around 5:15 with the pack at 5:20, Cruz set out on his own. However, this move would not go unchecked by the pack of veteran underclassmen. Matt Fortin decided to make his move from about 10 seconds back and took over the lead by the Barn.

After the relatively pedestrian pace for the first mile, the race really began to heat up. With Fortin surging and stringing out the pack, the race began to take shape. Freshman record holder Josh Kennedy and Sophomore record holder Matt Lacey checked the move and took up the pace. For those who followed the torrent second mile at just over 5:00 pace, the third mile had a passive outlook to it with the runners looking to keep their positions. At every turn Fortin would look over his shoulder gauging the distance between himself and Kennedy, Kennedy would follow and find Lacey a little ways further back, and finally Lacey would take a glance at his followers, Nate Brigham and Smith. Fortin cruised over the line with Kennedy a few seconds behind. Brigham ended the alum?s chances of a top 3 finish when he shouted to Lacey that Ben Smith was coming up to him in the final 400 meters. TUXC won in dominating fashion for the second year in a row with the alum only able to muster a forth place from the top 10.

Other Performances of note include 6th place finisher Justin Chung, a member of the TU ECAC team last year, breaking into the top 5 for TUXC and breaking the 17 minute barrier. Top freshman honors goes to Skye Isard with his 17 place finish against a heavily regarded freshman class.

With the hard work behind them, the team and alumni gathered around the traditional Connie Putnam BBQ to dine on hot dogs and hamburgers. And so marked the beginning of TUXC 2k4.



See more Photos   Full Results