2007 Men's X-C Season Outlook

The 2007 Eph squad returns 3 of the top 7 runners from last year's team that captured the NCAA New England Regional championship, the NESCAC, and ECAC titles, and went on to place 7th at the NCAA Championship Meet. Peter Farwell's Ephs are ranked 13th in the national preseason poll.

Looking for peak senior years will be Morgan Seybert (10th NESCAC), Corey Levin (18th Regional), Jim Clayton (3rd ECAC '05), Grant Burgess (6th ECAC 05; 9:18 steeplechase) and tri-captain Jared Oubre. "Seniors always put it together over the summer, and additionally Levin, Burgess and Seybert posted great track times to build off of for this fall," said Eph head coach Peter Farwell. "Leadership by captains Oubre, Burgess and Levin will help each member of our 55-man team achieve PR years, and enable us to put our best top 7 on the line at the end of the season."

Top juniors include Brendan Christian (4th NESCAC; 3rd at Regional), Tim Durham, Brooks Udelsman, Steve VanWert and Macklin Chaffee (11th ECAC; 4:13 mile). "Several of these juniors ran up a storm on campus this summer, meaning they got in plenty of hills and are in shape (!)," notes Farwell. "Christian put in a huge summer at altitude in Arizona, and should be a real team race leader this fall."

The Class of 2010 developed quickly for Williams last year, and much is expected of them in their sophomore year: Matt Deady (26th ECAC), Connor Kamm (12th NESCAC; 27th Regional), Edgar Kosgey (5th ECAC), Jeff Perlis (9th ECAC; 15:15 5k), and Corey Watts (6th ECAC; 31:52 10k). "This is a great group of sophomores, with loads of team spirit. They improved immensely last fall and in track, and several of these guys could be running in the top 7 this fall and make a big impact."

It will be tough for members of the Class of 2011 to break into this lineup, but some have the talent to make it. "It's always exciting to watch the first years adjust to our training and the college 8k distance," said Farwell. "This incoming class is a good one, with some fast track times, and it will be interesting to see how that converts in their first Williams XC season."

The Ephs should again be among the top 3 in the always highly competitive NESCAC and vie for a top-3 New England Div. III position and another trip to the NCAA Championship Meet. "NESCAC is always strong," states Farwell. "Bowdoin and Amherst return nearly their full lineups and will be top contenders, along with Tufts who always contends for the title. These teams will mix it up in the New England regional along with one of the perennial favorites Keene State, plus MIT."