Ephs Win 4th Consecutive NESCAC Championship
Manchester, CT--The dynamic duo of Edgar Kosgey '10 and Josephat Koima '12 led the Ephs to victory at Wickham Park, site of the 2009 NESCAC Championships. This victory is the fourth in as many years for the Ephs, who won easily and scored 40 points. Amherst College was second with 88 points. Jeff Perlis '10 also finished in the top ten, and sophomore Anthony Raduazo finished 12th. After looking tenuous in the few prior meets, the Ephs reasserted themselves as the New England Division III team to beat with their strong performance on Sunday afternoon.
The Ephs' team score (40) represents their lowest since 2006 while their margin of victory (48) is also the greatest since that year. In each of their four consecutive victories, Williams has put at least three men in the top ten, showing their strength at the top. Also remarkable, however, is the fact that Corey Watts, the Ephs fifth scorer, finished 13th overall and would have been the top runner for several teams. Second place Amherst, who narrowly missed upsetting the Ephs at home for the Little Three Championships last week, put two runners in the top ten. Tufts finished just behind Amherst with 90 points, while Middlebury was 4th (104) and Bowdoin 5th (120). Peter Kosgei won his third consecutive individual NESCAC crown for Hamilton College, running 25:40 on what was indubitably a slow and challenging course. Kosgei topped Williams' own Edgar Kosgey by 17 seconds, as Edgar ran 25:57. No one else finished faster than 26:18.
In the early stages of the race, the homophonic combination of Kosgei and Kosgey ran together with Amherst's Will Yochum and Daniel Murner at their heels. About two and a half miles in, Kosgei of Hamilton made his move and never looked back, running the last two miles alone. Kosgey of Williams soon followed and also ran solo for much of the back half of the race. Koima '12 ran tactically brilliantly. Sticking with teammates Perlis and Raduazo early in the race, Koima made his big move at about mile three to move to the group just behind the two leaders. He then made another big move with less than a mile to go and added a tremendous kick to take 3rd. Mark Springel '12 also had a brilliant day. Taking the race out conservatively, Springel moved up throughout to finish 22nd and capture the coveted 7th spot on the roster. Sam Jackson '10 continued his streak of impressive races, finishing 27th in 27:38.
The course did not run fast because it was hilly and muddy. "Twelve races had been run on the course the previous day, leaving the course torn up and rather muddy," remarked Will Palmer '11 who made the long trip from Williamstown, MA to Manchester, CT with some friends to cheer on their teammates. Frequent hills also ensured that lactic acid and oxygen debt were omnipresent for the harriers.
Also of note, runners outside the top 12 competed at the Doc Seeley meet, hosted by Williams at their Mt. Greylock course, on Friday. It was a great opportunity to take advantage of a friendly racing environment and the tapering the team did at the end of the season. Also, two ECAC spots were up for grabs, meaning the race at the front of the pack was very competitive. Geoff Rodriguez '11 continued his strong run late in the season to win the race in 27:24. Jason Rappaport '11, was not far behind.
All in all, it was a good day for the Ephs, providing some much needed confidence heading into the most crucial part of the season. Next week the 8th-14th runners defend Williams' home course as the ECAC Championships are set for next Saturday at Mt. Greylock Regional High School. The following week is the Regional Championships at the University of Southern Maine and, conditionally, the National Championsips the week after.
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| 2009 NESCAC Champions -- 4 in a row |
