Cross country delivers at GLCA meet in Kenyon

OC Runners continue their hot streak with strong showing

The Yeorunners charged headlong at their second full meet of the season, the GLCA championships, and continued to meet and even exceed their coach's goals.

The meet, held at Kenyon College, featured strong competition from teams out of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, including conference rivals Wooster, Denison and host Kenyon. The Oberlin men managed a fifth place finish, over one hundred points ahead of Wooster. The women did not fair as well, finishing seventh, but it was their performance as a team of runners that impressed head coach Tom Mulligan.

"Our top five runners are placing nicely in the standings," Mulligan said. He added that if this continues to be the case, the team standings should improve.

This is not to say that the team's showings at this meet were below expectations. "This was a very tough field of competitors, and our runners did very well," Mulligan said. "We're a few weeks into school now, and the wear of practices and schoolwork is beginning to pile up, making these performances an even better indicator of conditioning."

It was that physical toll that prompted Mulligan and assistant coach Abby Lorge to withdraw from last weekend's Wooster Invitational. Both felt it was the right thing to do since it is early enough in the season that neither team will suffer in the standings. Of greater importance is the fact that both teams are also at less of a risk of injury or exhaustion.

Sophomore John Rogers and junior Medora Lytle continued their streaks by finishing at the head of the Oberlin pack for the men's and women's teams respectively. Rogers was 11th overall and Lytle 13th. Both finished less than a minute behind the meet winners. Sophomore David Bevacqua was close on Rogers' heels, placing 13th. Wabash College was the overall winner on the men's side, with Depauw as the women's winner.

As the season continues, Mulligan continues to stress the team's need to work together, stay injury free and aim to be in top form by the NCAC championships on Halloween. Both coaches see continued improvement and a strong spirit among all the runners and are optimistic about the future.

Perhaps the brightest signal of things to come is the reaction of both squads to the one week suspension of the men's squad in response to an "inappropriate act," according to administration. The team ran nude by the groundbreaking of the Environmental Studies Center Friday (see related article page 5). The suspension will cause them to miss this weekend's Ohio Northern Invitational. Neither team let the issue intrude greatly on their season, continuing to practice and train as normal.

To use the old clich�, they're keeping their eyes on the prize... and coming closer to reaching it every day.