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2004 Wrap-Up
The Williams College women’s cross country team reached the pinnacle of success by claiming the 2004 NCAA Div. III National Championship Nov. 21 in Eau Claire, Wis.
It was the second national title in three years for the Ephs, who outpointed conference rival Middlebury, 110-129, for the crown. Senior Jenn Campbell (Easthampton, Mass.) capped her fine x-c career at Williams by placing first for the Ephs and third overall with a time of 21 minutes, 25.3 seconds. Junior Caroline Cretti placed just behind Campbell with a time of 21:26.5, good for fourth place.
Senior Katie Marsh and first year Liz Gleason placed 23rd and 24th, respectively, to help Williams gain the title. The final three of the Eph 7 were senior Kali Moody (54th, 23:10.3), senior Maya Kessler (74th, 23:28.3) and senior Emily Welsh (121st, 24:13.9).
Campbell became the first Eph, male or female, to earn All-America honors all four years. Cretti earned All-American honors for the second time, and Marsh and Gleason were also tabbed All-American.
The Ephs finished second at the NCAA New England Qualifier, with Cretti running to the individual title for the third consecutive season. Williams and Middlebury shared the conference title, with Cretti winning the individual championship.
The Ephs recaptured the Little 3 title, their 20th in 29 tries and 16th in the past 18 years.
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Ephs win 2nd NCAA Title in Three Years
 2004 NCAA Champions |
Peter Farwell's Williams women's cross country team won their second NCAA Div. III title in three years on the strength of a 3rd place finish by senior Jenn Cambell and a 4th place finish by junior Caroline Cretti. NESCAC foe Middlebury, which edged the Ephs at the NCAA New England qualifier the week before was second.
"For the whole season until today these women ran with the notion in the back of their minds that they could beat Middlebury," said Farwell. "Today we put that notion right in the front of their minds and everyone went out and ran for place and they won the race. This is the pinnacle of our seniors careers and a true team win," said Farwell.
Campbell became the first Eph, male or female, to earn All-America honors all four years.
Senior Katie Marsh (23rd) and first year Liz Gleason (24th) captured All-America honors along with Campbell and Cretti. Completing the Eph contingent were seniors Kali Moody (56th), Maya Kessler was (74th) and Emily Welsh was 121st.
Head coach Peter Farwell was named the NCAA Div. III Coach of the Year. Farwell has now won four NCAA titles as the Ephs' head coach of men's cross country (1994 & 1995) and women's cross country (2002 & 2004).
2004 Season Outlook
 All-American Katie Marsh '05 is back from injury for 2004 |
After a bittersweet fourth place finish in the NCAAs for the Williams Women’s Cross Country Team in 2003, things are looking up for the 2004 squad, which returns four of its top seven runners.
The pack is led by 2002 All-American Caroline Cretti ’06, who won last year’s regional meet, but could not compete in last year’s NCAA championship due to injury. Cretti left Campbell to be the top finisher in that race, pulling in a 17th-place finish, garnering All-American honors for the third consecutive year.
The perennial powerhouse, which loses its 2nd and 4th highest finishers at the NCAAs, will face a tough NESCAC schedule, but as always, should be a contender for the title. The squad also loses another top performer, 2002 All-American Michele Rorke '06, who will be studying abroad. However, back from injury is fellow 2002 All-American Katie Marsh '05.
“We had quite a lot of injuries last season,” co-captain Marsh said, in reference to herself and Cretti, along with Campbell, who is coming back from a foot injury sustained last spring. “We are hoping that people have been able to stay healthy over the summer and will be able to remain healthy through the fall.”
 All-Americans Caroline Cretti '06 (left) and Jenn Campbell '05 |
The Ephs hope to defend their ECAC Division III title, and attack the NESCAC, New England, and NCAA titles this year. Standing in their way will be defending NCAA champion and NESCAC foe Middlebury, who is always strong and ready to compete. Amherst has good depth, while Trinity is a continually improved squad, and should be near the top as well. As Head Coach Farwell said, "NESCAC is loaded," and will provide the Ephs with tough competition.
With 37 on the team, the Ephs will enter the season with their deepest squad ever, and as always, will have a great team dynamic with a good group of upperclassmen to mesh in with the newcomers.
“Our team is big with a huge senior class and a whole lot of incoming frosh,” Marsh said. “We are really deep through all of the classes, which is exciting.”
Returning runners expected to duke it out for roster sports include Kali Moody, Susie Theroux, Emily Fertig, Emily Welsh, Danner Hickman, Katie Davisson, Lisa Davenport, and Kaitlin Rees. Moody finished among the top five Ephs in three races last fall including finishing seventh overall at the Little Three Championship meet. Top first-years will include Liz Gleason (Newton, MA), Caitlin Higgins (Buffalo, NY), Ryann Hoffman (Bay Shore, NY), Mallory Harlin (Cranford, NJ), and Lissie Robie (Raleigh, NC).
Cretti and co-captain Campbell will be counted on to lead the team in placements, as Campbell will be going for her fourth All-American placing, and Cretti should again be one of the top runners in the nation.
“The pack should be even better than last year’s,” Farwell said. “[We should have] other possible All-Americans, and certainly many all-conference and all-region runners.
Past Season Highlights | |
2003 | 2002 |
| 2003 Season Accolades | 2002 Season Accolades |
 Fourth-Place Finish |
 Ephs win NCAA Championships by Record Margin |
With the 2002 women's NCAA cross country title Farwell joins Dave Johnson as the only coaches at Williams to win three NCAA titles. Farwell previously won the men's cross country titles in 1994 and 1995. Ironically, both Johnson (Class of 1971) and Farwell (Class of 1973) are Williams alums. Four of Farwell's top five and six of the seven who ran in today's race will return next year to try and defend the 2002 title.
The 2002 NCAA Division III women's cross country title is the 12th NCAA title won by Williams athletes over the years.
 All-Americans Julia Bensen '03 and Jenn Campbell'05 Womens XC takes 2nd at 2001 Nationals | |||