CANTON, N.Y. -- The biting cold dissuaded nobody; the dismal weather hanging over Bard's men's and women's cross country teams did not show in their races, and by the end of the day, the team took warm refuge in their collective effort. Bard's scoring improved tremendously from last season, improving 21 points over 8K on the men's side and one point over 6K on the women's side, with a complete restructuring of the scoring cast—only Charlie Grenadier, Ilyas Hotak, and Emma St. Peter were scorers at both last year and this year's Liberty League. 

Normally, a pleasantly meandering course through the woods turned into a flurry of spikes and mud; last night's rains turned the dirt trails into mush. From a course commentator during the women's 6k: "You could not make up worse conditions." Seven men and five women from Bard charged through nonetheless, splashing through two-inch deep puddles, fighting up slippery slopes, and pushing past a competitive field for an effort that bodes well for Bard cross country's future. 

Elijah Flynn, running for the first time without his watch, kept with the leading group of men to clock a 27:29.9, a personal best by 48 seconds. It cannot be understated that this course, combined with these conditions, is not ideal for a personal best; the leading field, which included the Liberty League meet record holder, ran an average of thirty seconds slower than their personal bests. Flynn finished 45th out of 114. 

Calvin Thomas and Bo Hopwood paced together for the majority of the race, Thomas sitting behind Hopwood until the third mile. Thomas finished at 31:13.7, and Hopwood kicked past one runner at the finish for 31:25.5. Charlie Grenadier, Koei Nakamura, and Ilyas Hotak paced together, executing an effective race. Grenadier came in at 32:05.6, Nakamura at 32:13.9, and Hotak at 32:40.7. Nakamura ran wearing Coach Brody Smith's spikes, and attributed his massive improvement—a three-minute personal best—to their "floatiness." Hameed Azad, running through two falls, crossed the line at 33:57.0. Johnny Henriquez's final effort before his first track and field decathlon season ended at 34:20.4.

On the women's side, Anna Shtandenko clinched a top-scoring placement at 27:01.5, crediting the cheering from the coaching staff and the men's team, who raced first. An advantage of the windy, repetitive course is that it was replete with spots to encourage teammates. Shtandenko finished in the Top 80. 

Following her, Emma St. Peter finished her first season as team captain with a 28:15.2 and took away a battle scar, inflicted by another runner's spike. Alex Laskowski cleaned up a commanding first-year season: 30:26.9 with an injured hip—this was her first time running all week. Chloe Desautels strided through with her solid form and fundamentals, always keeping her eyes on the next runner en route to a 31:25.4. Kai Roper, also tracking a single competitor for the whole race, found a 35:50.9, ending a successful cross-country effort before her return to sprinting and throwing next season.

This was a commendable effort considering the team's overall youth: only four runners (Koei Nakamura, Bo Hopwood, Ilyas Hotak, Chloe Desautels) are seniors. While standing in the stabbing winds that torrented the awards ceremony, the team can't help but dream of higher placements in the coming years. For now, they relish in another successful season, marked by intense efforts and satisfying performances, and concluded by the first tastes of winter, which beckon all to shelter together. 

Women's 6k:
49. Anna Shtandenko - 27:01.5
Emma St. Peter - 28:15.2
Alex Laskowski - 30:26.9
Chloe Desautels - 31:25.4
Kai Roper - 35:50.9

Men's 8k:
34. Elijah Flynn - 27:29.9
Calvin Thomas - 31:13.7
Bo Hopwood - 31:25.5
Charlie Grenadier - 32:05.6
Koei Nakamura - 32:13.9
Ilyas Hotak - 32:40.7
Hameed Azad - 33:57.0
Johnny Henriquez - 34:20.4