The graduation of two of the top seven runners from last year's squad will present many challenges for the 2003 season. The lady mules will have to reestablish themselves in the New England Division III rankings. Despite losses, the Colby cross-country team expects to place itself once again amongst the top 10 teams in New England.

Senior captains Lindsay Antolino '04 (Columbus, Ohio), Mary Phelps '04 (Piedmont, Calif.), and Elizabeth Turnbull '04 (Wenham, Mass.) are all coming off strong 2002 seasons. Phelps individually qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2002. Phelps and senior Cristina Sisson '04 (Oakbrook, Ill.) both ran consistently in the top five last year and will be looked upon to continue their success in 2003.

Junior Karina Johnson '05 (Tolland, Conn.) was the team's lead runner in 2002 and will play a big role in the success of the 2003 team. Sophomores Hillary Easter '06 (Jay, Maine) and Jess Minty '06 (Concord, Mass.) were consistently in the top seven and will be looked upon to play a significant role in the team's success. A number of returnees could find themselves vying for a top seven position, including Anna Sommo '04 (Appleton, Maine) and Turnbull. The Colby harriers also will look for contributions from a group of first-year runners that includes Allison Cogbill (Lacrosse, Wis.), Elizabeth Coogan (Concord, Mass.), Alexis Heimann (Cumberland, Maine), Elizabeth Littlefield (Wellesley, Mass.), and Mariah Whitney (Brownfield, Maine).

With returning and new talent, the opportunity for a great season is in the hands of those who prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. The journey will be an exciting one.

Colby's distance training program is divided into four or five phases, with each phase focused on the improvement of a different energy system. Workouts are designed to improve cellular adaptation and running economy, increase maximum oxygen capacity, and elevate lactate threshold. The emphasis is on individual development. Every effort is made to ensure that each individual is challenged without over- or under-training.

Thanks to a gift from Judge and Mrs. Levin Campbell and their daughter Eleanor '81, Colby has developed five miles of running trails over the 714-acre Mayflower Hill campus. The wood-chipped and grass-covered trails have been the site of state, NESCAC, and ECAC championship races.

The greater Waterville area is a runner's haven. In addition to the Campbell Trails, a variety of dirt roads within the Belgrade Lakes area, local golf courses, and area trails provide an array of soft surfaces and varying terrain on which to train and endless miles of breathtaking scenery that is hard for the running enthusiast to resist.

» About the Cross Country Trails