SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS - Winter's first heralds are out at Western New England University, along with twenty teams vying for top spot at the Cross Country Invitational. Bard mixes up with unfamiliar teams in the final race before championship season, defending positions, placing high, and running fast. The course at Springfield is much flatter than the ones Bard will race on during Liberty Leagues and Regionals, but for Head Coach Brody Smith, it is much more about the athlete's mental engagement, rather than specific terrain work. Bard places 6th on the women's side out of 18 teams, and 7th of 21 on the men's side. Solidly in the top third on each side, Bard is looking sharp for the championship season.

Luca Foty continues her indomitable streak as Bard's top scorer and a top-team threat, placing 12th against this field. Foty paces out strong and stays in the race to run 24:22.64, the sixth placing first-year in the race. Anna Shtandenko and Ceili Irving stuck together during the effort, with Shtandneko kicking in a 25:07.94 for 27th place. It's the first time that Bard isn't led by the pair of first years, as Irving comes in a few seconds later, 25:10.87 and 28th place. The two pace groups on the women's side are ossifying, as the three aforementioned runners lead out together, the following trio works with each other to finish out the scoring. This time around, it was Emma St. Peter in 63rd with 27:10.17, followed by the pair of Alex Laskowski and Kai Roper, both just a place apart, 71st and 72nd with 27:35.37 and 27:44.02 respectively, but a new personal best for Roper. With 157 athletes in the women's 6k race, it is the first time in anyone's memory that Bard puts six scorers solidly in the top half. The team combines for 190 points. Shtandenko comments after the race, about the future of Bard XC, simply: "I believe in our team."

On the men's side, Elijah Flynn cruises to 19th place, fully cleared to train again, he is happy to have an effort in "with some training under [his] legs." Flynn finished in 28:05.68, saying "I just kept making songs in my head. Like I would come up with a melody, and sing that for a couple kilometers, then I would come up with a new one." The team is happy to see Flynn in his usual form, racing effectively. The men were given a directive to get out hard, due to the intense bottleneck just 200 meters from the start. Colin Buttitta did well on that, coming up to around 30th place, maintaining over eight kilometers to finish in 28:58.07 and 38th place. Charlie Grenadier and Calvin Thomas went side-by-side for the first mile, but Grenadier lost Thomas in the following four miles, finding Buttitta to run 28:59.44, and 39th place. Thomas, still struggling with the mental in the middle miles, finds a 30:03.14 for 66th place. Rounding out scoring, Johnny Henriquez gets out hard, pacing a consistent five miles for a 31:26.55, 104th place and a new personal best. Bard men score 235 points, and secure a top-7 team finish.

Thomas immediately gathers the finishers for a reflective exercise after the race. Regardless of their feelings about their effort, they share three things they did well, and one they need to work on. In Cross Country, there is much more weight on the athlete's mentality; everyone can do the same training, but the results are decided by who is more present on the day. Bard XC has spent the season internalizing this, focusing on their positive race engagement. The test is now only two weeks away. Bard XC returns in two weeks for the Liberty League championships, hosted at Bard's Montgomery Place on October 31st.

Women's 6k: 6th of 18
12. Luca Foty 24:22.64
Anna Shtandenko 25:07.94
Ceili Irving 25:10.87
Emma St Peter 27:10.17
Alex Laskowski 27:35.37
Kai Roper 27:44.02

Men's 8k: 7th of 21
19. Elijah Flynn 28:05.68
Colin Buttitta 28:58.07
Charlie Grenadier 28:59.44
Calvin Thomas 30:03.14
Johnny Henriquez 31:26.55