“I didn’t expect to win going in,” Scherf said. “So, I can’t be anything but happy.”

Last year, the Crimson’s top two finishers came in ninth and 80th—no other runner even broke the century mark.

On Friday, Scherf’s victory was followed by the efforts of senior Lindsay Yourman and freshman Lauren Walker. The duo placed 14th and 21st, respectively.

“Both Lindsay Yourman and Lauren Walker are excellent additions to the team and are doing amazing,” Musante said. “Their contributions are indispensable.”

Freshmen Sarah Bourne (19:02) and Eliza Gardiner (19:18) rounded out Harvard’s scoring by finishing in 48th and 72nd.

As with the men’s team, the women sat two of their best runners—junior Laura Maludzinski and senior Rosalinda Castaneda—in order to prepare for the more important meets yet to come.

Riding the high from Friday’s success, the team now enters the stretch of the season when they will compete in these key championship meets.

“Particularly we would like to beat Yale [at Heptagonals], because we were so close at H-Y-P,” Scherf said. “Personally, I would like to get All-American.”

In order to do that, Scherf must finish in the top 25 competitors at the upcoming NCAA championships.

—Staff writer Gabriel M. Velez can be reached at gmvelez@fas.harvard.edu.