“Last year, myself and the team ran pretty badly,” Purnell said. “I knew how important it was to run well this week. We’ve got a much better feel to the team this year, a much better attitude. I’m looking forward to qualifying for Nationals and getting a shot at All-American.”

Knowing this will be his final year running for Harvard, Purnell is taking it on himself to help rebuild a team that disappointed for most of last season.

For the senior, there is no better time than now to ensure that he and his teammates have their sights set on the same goals.

The team is set to build upon its first meet and to continue to improve, and the Crimson know that its success will depend heavily on Purnell.

“I’ve been the number one guy for two years now,” said Purnell. “I never skip out on anything or take anything easy at practice. It’s on me to be a low scorer in all of our meets.”

With Purnell at the forefront, Harvard cross country is looking to make waves in the Ivy League and ultimately to compete at the national level.

“He is a gifted athlete who has really taken his training and dedication to another level,” Harvard coach Jason Saretsky said. “He is a great example of what it takes to compete against the nation’s best.”