Helms paced the team, and she is confident that this race shows how good Harvard can be in two weeks at Heptagonals.

"The team did awesome today," Helms added. "We all came together finally; we've been expecting this for a long time. We have a good, strong pack in front now, and that makes all the difference. That's how we're going to beat teams at Heps."

Helms ran well despite being bothered a bit during the race by a reoccurring illiotibial band injury in her knee.

"I was relatively happy with my race," Helms said. "I started being bothered by my injury again, so I ran cautiously, but that will be better by Heps."

Unsworth, running a best time at Franklin Park, and Hymas ran in the front pack with Helms for duration of the race.

Pacing herself just behind the first pack, sophomore Erin Larkspur finished 4th for Harvard and 37th overall with a time of 18:26.

Colgan also ran very well in her first college championship meet.

"This race was my best this year; I am still just getting in shape," Colgan said. "At one point in the race, we had four girls running all together--that is very different from high school. It was great because the whole time I could see someone [of my teammates] up ahead of me."