One year ago, women's cross country captain Anna Willard '06 sat frustrated on the team bus. Her team had just finished seventh at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. In her three years at Brown, Willard and her teammates had finished no higher than sixth place at Heps.
"It was tough to watch year after year," Willard said. "Since I've been at Brown we've had a lot of talented runners, but we've never capitalized on our potential."
After seven years at the helm of the women's cross-country team, Coach Rick Wemple resigned just days before his contract was to expire on July 1. The team he left behind spent two uncertain months building their endurance as they waited for a new coach to be selected.
On Aug. 16, Craig Lake was announced as the new director of men's and women's track and field and cross country. Lake comes to Brown after spending eight years as the distance coach at Columbia, where she transformed the struggling Lions into the reigning Ivy League champions. She intends to take her new team down a similar path.
"I'm really excited about the prospect of taking the men's and the women's programs to the top of the Ivy League," Lake said.
The former Princeton standout plans to breathe new life into the program by simply requiring more of her athletes than they have been used to. The runners will be asked to make a number of sacrifices involving training, diet, sleep and recreational activities.
"The team needs to make necessary sacrifices outside of practice time in order for us to reach our potential," Lake said. "Running is a lifestyle choice."
Team members are working to adjust to the new requirements, but most welcome the change.
"The new guidelines are tough, but it's hard to doubt such a proven coach. Everyone is on board," Willard said.
With only three first-years joining the squad and several other Ivies returning strong teams this year, the women harriers do not enter the season without challenges set before them. The greatest obstacle to overcome could be could be the team's lack of depth.
The Bears' top five positions are still questionable. Only Willard, Naja Ferjan '07 and Michol Monaghan '07 appear to be locks going into the season. Ferjan and Monaghan are the team's top two returning finishers from last year's Heps.
"We cannot afford to have any injuries or setbacks this year," Lake said. "We need everyone at 100 percent on race day."
Herald Assistant Sports Editor Jilane Rodgers '06 and Anya Davidson '06 could find their way into the points this year. Rodgers scored at last year's championships as the team's fifth runner. Davidson will look to regain her strength after being injured through most of her junior season.
Alex Brown '08 has made the transition to longer distances despite being recruited as a middle distance athlete. After strong performances in the 5,000-meter run during the outdoor track season, Brown will help to fill the gaps on the varsity roster.
The Bears enter the 2005 season more conservatively than in years past. The team will gradually build on its mileage during the first half of the fall. Longer distances will give way to faster, more intense workouts as the team prepares for competition at the only race that really matters - Heps.
Despite the emphasis on the championship meet, Brown will most likely be fighting for a ranking in the middle of the Ivy League. High-powered teams from Columbia, Princeton, Dartmouth and Yale are expected to take up the top four spots.
"We set realistic goals of finishing around fourth or fifth," Willard said. "But, anything can happen that late in the year."
Bruno opened up the season with a third-place finish at the low-key Dartmouth Invitational last weekend. The women will travel to New York City on Sept. 24 for the Paddy Doyle Meet of Champions at Van Cortlandt Park. The team returns to Van Cortlandt for the Heptagonal Championships on Oct. 28.
