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The
Panther women's cross-country teams have
built a tradition of excellence and
enjoyed great success over the past two
decades, winning state, conference, ECAC,
New England and the 2000 and 2001 NCAA
Division III Championships. The team has
been one of the top teams in the country
the past six years, and were ranked #1
nationally for most of the entire 2000 and
2001 seasons by the USTCA national coaches
poll. The Panthers have qualified for the
NCAA Championships in eight of the last 10
years finishing third in 1997, seventh in
1998, second in 1999 and first in 2000 and
2001. Last season, the team turned in an
impressive second place finish at the NCAA
Championships. Additionally, for the last
five years the women's team has earned the
U.S. Track and Cross Country Coaches
Association All-Academic honors.
There
will be approximately 30 student-athletes
on Middlebury's squad in 2003. Training
begins with a week of pre-season practice
prior to the start of classes in
September. The team trains each weekday at
4:30 p.m. with practices lasting from 45
minutes to two hours. The daily workouts
include stretching, easy distance runs,
leg speed, fartlek, strength, interval,
and pool workouts. Most competitions are
held each Saturday beginning the second
weekend of September and running through
the third weekend of November.
Middlebury's
cross-country course is considered one of
the most scenic in New England. The first
mile winds around the College athletic
fields and then joins the Red Kelly Trail,
which follows the perimeter of the
College's golf course. The course consists
of moderately rolling terrain with several
steep hills. The surface of the course is
grass, dirt, and wood chips, and is
acknowledged by visiting coaches as one of
the best in New England.
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