Author: Cindy Tang
Occidental’s Cross Country team has hit the ground running once again as both the men’s and women’s teams are currently ranked in the top three in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
“Standards in the conference have gone up,” Coach Rob Bartlett said. “We’re in the top three on both sides, but where we stand in there is to be determined.”
Unfortunately, the beginning of the Cross Country season hit a speed bump at the Redland’s Invitational on Sept. 13 when both teams fared worse than anticipated. Top runner and co-captain Grace Peck (junior) was forced to drop out of the race with a hamstring injury. Other co-captain Denali Halsey (junior) was injured as well, but treaded on in a valiant effort to finish fourth for the team. New runners Sadie Mohler (first-year), Meghan Whalen (first-year), Eliza Dornbush (first-year) and returner Rachel Keylon (senior) rounded out the rest of the top five, placing the women’s team sixth at the meet and fifth overall in SCIAC.
The men’s pack had an off day during the Redlands Invitation as well – although they gave a noble performance, it was not as good as they had anticipated.
“It’s early in the season – we’re just training through meets right now,” men’s co-captain Keith Blumenfeld (senior) said. “We’ll be ready by the time the important meets come around to defend our SCIAC title and do well at Nationals.” Blumenfeld happens to be the top returning man in the conference from last year’s SCIAC Championships.
Nevertheless, Eric Kleinsasser (first-year), the top runner so far this season, finished second overall at the invite. Kleinsasser, along with Clay Hoadley (senior), Sebi Devlin-Foltz (first-year) and team captains Blumenfeld and David W. Martinez (senior) helped the team capture third place at the meet and third in SCIAC.
Yet previous meets pale in comparison to the Riverside Invitational on Sept. 27.
“This was our best race of the year,” Bartlett said. “But we still need to get better.”
The womens’ team finished third in SCIAC with Peck, a national qualifier last track season and one of the top cross country runners in SCIAC, leading the Oxy pack. Whalen, Moehler, Keylon and Dornbush helped steer the team to a solid 16th place at the meet.
“We have the hottest girls’ team in the SCIAC,” said Halsey, who did not run at Riverside due to injuries, said. “The girls’ team is doing really well right now. We’re definitely not perfect – we need more work – but we’re getting there.”
The men’s team performed even better as they came in at a strong sixth place at Riverside and third in SCIAC with Kleinsasser simultaneously arriving first for Oxy and SCIAC. Kleinsasser, a new member of the team, made way for returners Blumenfeld, Hoadley, Martinez, and Victor Kali (junior) to complete the top five with a powerful finish.
Even though the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams have gotten in step, it’s going to be a rough journey to defend their SCIAC Championship titles.
“Right now we’re not the favorites to win either SCIAC title. However, we certainly have the talent to challenge for both titles,” Bartlett said. “We’ll be ready when it matters and will be ready to succeed.”
With everyone swiftly and resiliently improving individually and as a team, it’s difficult to determine how this season will pan out. But both teams are confident in their abilities and potential.
“I’m really excited about the hard work and dedication that all the new runners and returners are bringing this year,” Martinez said. “I think it’s going to be one exciting season.”
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