The Harvard women's cross country team got off to a strong start this past Friday in its first race of the season. Despite the humid and windy conditions at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, the Crimson trounced Cornell, compiling only 10 points to the Big Red's 43.

First-place finisher and Captain Suzanne Jones led the team with a time of 18:51 for the 5000-meter course, as the Crimson captured four of the top six places.

"It was really a very good race," Jones said. "The course was very rocky and the straight away was windy, but Jody [Dushay] and I worked well throughout the race."

Dushay finished second with a time of 19:06.

"We ran pretty well as a team," said sixth-place finisher Jenny Schank (19:49). "We were expecting to do well against Cornell."

This year's squad lost former Captain Katie Toner to graduation. The question remains whether the loss will affect the squad.

"Katie was one of the top three point-scorers on the team," stated Jones. "But she will not only be a big loss point-wise. She was a big inspiration."

However, both Jones and Schank, commenting on the prospects for the future, pointed to the impressive performances of the freshman runners, especially that of Rachel Lewis, who placed fourth with a time of 19:25.

No wonder Jones feels confident about the rest of the season.

"Everyone is in great shape," Jones said. "We should definitely be one of the top three teams at the Heptagonals, and hopefully we'll win. Our goal is to keep on running well and make the nationals."

Looking ahead, Harvard will face Brown, Dartmouth, and Northeastern September 30 at Franklin Park.