The Crimson’ other top two scorers—sophomore classmates Kevin Lyons in 26th and Devin Lyons-Quirk in 28th—both enter the season ready to make more of an impact than they were able to in their first season.
Last year, Lyons missed much of the season because of illness, and his presence among the top runners will boost the more experienced team this fall.
Alasdair and the team now look forward to two weeks from now when they will have a chance at the Iona Meet of Champions to prove themselves against the best competition in the Northeast.
WOMEN
Senior Lindsey Yourman might have felt a little funny doing some of the summer workouts in preparation for the cross country season, but after this past weekend’s result, Coach Frank Haggerty’s training looks to be paying off.
“As far as our summer training went, it was a little different than normal, as our Coach prescribed a lot of alternative exercises to running, which he calls ‘circuits,’” Yourman said.
The circuits included exercises like jumping jacks and leap frogs.
“I think that they made training a lot more interesting and fun,although somewhat embarrassing at times when noticed by anyone outside of the team,” Yourman said, “but at least they probably built character.”
Yourman set the pace for the Crimson by taking 11th place with a time of 18:40.50.
The junior class also posted a strong effort to help Harvard to its fifth place result. Laura Maludzinski took 14th with a time just four seconds behind Yourman.
Fellow junior and captain Danila Musante was the third best Harvard finisher, crossing the line in 32nd.
Musante has stepped into the team’s leadership role after one of its best runners and team leader Bev Whelan ’03 graduated last spring.
But the team does not believe that leadership will be an issue at all this fall.
“I think one of the biggest challenges for our team will be trying to stay injury-free throughout the season while still putting in the mileage that is required for us all to improve as much as we can by Heps,” Yourman said. “Our most important team goal right is to train so that we all peak at the right time.”
—Staff writer Gabriel M. Velez can be reached at gmvelez@fas.harvard.edu.