Jumbos Currently 6th in Program of Year Rankings

(3/24/2012 10:32 AM)

With two of the three seasons behind them, the Tufts men’s XC/Track & Field program has positioned themselves well in the National Program of the Year battle. With the final campaign of the outdoor season ahead of them, the Jumbos sit in 6th place in the rankings. North Central College, the only team to win this young award, remains atop the rankings. NCC is followed by UW Oshkosh and Bates College in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Tufts squad took the momentum from their successful XC season, where they finished 9th in the country, and added to it. The onslaught of PR’s that was the indoor season decimated the Tufts All Time Lists as the 2011-12 squad left their indelible mark on the program’s history. From top to bottom, every event group brought a hunger and drive to this winter season and it showed in the results.

After a 2010-11 season that brought only two 800m runners to Nationals, this year’s squad elevated their game and boasted national caliber competitors in every training group. Eventually, the squad would bring 7 competitors to the indoor championships with 8 entries, returning home with 7 All American honors.

However, that was simply the tip of the iceberg. What can get lost in the shadows created by the spotlight of nationals are those performances that just missed the mark. Sophomore Brad Nakanishi missed the meet by merely 1cm while the 4x4 team that reset the school record was the first time left off the plane, missing by an insignificant, yet not-so-insignificant 0.02 seconds. Additionally, junior Matt Rand sat at 15th on the 5k list that brought only 13 athletes to Nationals.

With 24 performances that cracked the top 10 All Time List including a school record in the 4x4, the Jumbos would eventually add a 17th place finish at Nationals to add to their 9th in XC. Now, the question remains, what will they be able to assemble for an encore. Is the show over or are their still some performances left in the bank? Is the hunger there or has complacency set in?

Only time, competition, and performances can answer these questions. Luckily, this 2012 Spring squad has plenty of that standing in front of them. With a pair of throwers kick-starting the outdoor season at Bridgewater State College this weekend, the full team will be back in effect starting March 31st with the Snowflake Classic.