Williamstown, MA-- Junior Joanna Johnson of Oberlin College won the Purple Valley Classic 6k hosted by Williams College in a time of 22:12 and Johns Hopkins University won the team title with four runners in the top 10.
Senior Laura Paulsen led JHU by placing third in 22:24, while classmate Mira Patel claimed fourth in 22:43 . Sophomore Cecilia Spring was fifth for JUH (22:49) and junior Christina Valero captured ninth (22:58). Johns Hopkins won with a team score of 29. Willaims finished second with 55 points and defending NCAA champion Middlebury was third with 69 points.
Johns Hopkins, currently ranked fourth nationally for Division III, proved its depth in taking the title with senior Nadia McMillan coming in 14th in 23:09 and closing out their scoring on the day.
The Ephs displayed their tried and true packing strategy on Saturday, snagging second place in the Purple Valley Classic, the first home meet of the season. In the 6-kilometer Varsity race, four Williams women secured places in the top 12.
The Ephs used the sunny skies and dry course conditions to their advantage as they established a solid standing among a strong field of competitors, from Division I, II and III and ranging from the Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic and New England.
For Williams, senior captain Bret Scofield led the first pack of Ephs to the finish in 22:51, good for sixth place, with a tight pack in step behind her. First year Jennifer Gossels and junior Meghan Shea finished right in stride in 22:53, cruising to seventh and eighth place, respectively. sophomore Lauren Goldstein-Kral finished 11th overall in 23:02.
Rounding out the top five scorers was senior Elly Teitsworth in 23:28, followed closely by classmate Ariel Williams in 23:30 and sophomore Olivia Delia in 23:35.
In the 5k coed race, the women harriers had a solid showing, with senior Olga Kondratjeva outrunning the female competition in 20:05, and senior Nora Mitchell running an impressive race for fourth place in 20:23.
The Ephs will take a hiatus from racing next weekend to train through and rest up for Division I New Englands at Franklin Park in Boston on October 10.
