Season In Review: 2013 Wells College Women's Cross Country


Every Friday throughout the summer of 2014, the Wells College Department of Athletics website will look back at the "year that was". Starting with field hockey on Friday, May 16, a comprehensive "season in review" for each of Wells' 14 NCAA Division III varsity sports will be posted, giving fans not only a look back but also a look forward to the upcoming season of play.


Led by legendary Head Coach Dr. Jack Daniels, the 2013 Wells College women's cross country squad recently concluded their eighth season as a varsity program in Aurora. Great strides were made, figuratively and literally, by the team's nine student-athletes as they raised their profile within the conference and on the regional level. Outside of their athletic competitions, the women's cross country team was nationally recognized for their academic achievements with a major award.


2013
Schedule and Results | Roster | Season Times | News | Record Book

TOP FINISHERS

Emily Middlebrook
4K - 15:46.10 (09/21/13)
5K - 19:46.50 (09/07/13)
6K - 23:41.50 (11/16/13)

Deaven Theriault
4K - 15:58.80 (09/21/13)
5K - 20:17.80 (09/07/13)
6K - 24:41.80 (09/14/13)

Katie Lamanna
4K - 17:51.20 (09/21/13)
5K - 21:29.70 (10/19/13)
6K - 25:54.60 (11/16/13)

POSTSEASON AWARD WINNERS

MOST VALUABLE RUNNER
Emily Middlebrook

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Deaven Theriault

EXPRESS AWARD
Katie Lamanna

NOTABLES

  • IT'S ACADEMIC: In recognition of their strong academic performance, the women's cross country team picked up a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III All-Academic Team award. Among the 220 total programs recognized with the award, Wells was one of only 141 schools to have both their men's and women's teams honored in the same season.

    The Wells women earned the award for the third consecutive season while the men's squad earned the distinction for the first time in school history. Across the previous three academic years, the Wells women's cross country team was the lone representative from the North Eastern Athletic Conference.
  • FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: For the first time in school history, a complete women's cross country team from Wells College was sent to compete at the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional Cross Country Championship. Individual runners from Wells made their first appearance at the NCAA Regionals in 2011, but enough runners were sent in 2013 to qualify for a team score.
  • TAMING THE WILDCAT WEEKEND CLASSIC: Junior Emily Middlebrook (Newark, N.Y.) placed first amongst the field of competitors at the 2013 SUNYIT Wildcat Weekend Classic on Sept. 28. Middlebrook and the women's team placed second overall amongst the 17 team field. Excluding head-to-head team events, Middlebrook drew her fourth first place finish in her three year career. She placed first in the Cazenovia Homecoming Invitational on Oct. 1, 2011 and also drew back-to-back first place finishes at the NEAC Championships in 2011 and 2012.
  • ONE-TWO PUNCH: For the first time in program history, Wells had two runners within a race's top-10 finishers. On Oct. 19 at the Cross Country Only Championships, Middlebrook and freshman Deaven Theriault (Ludlow, Mass.) finished sixth and eighth, respectively. At the very next meet, the pair placed second and fifth to secure a fourth place team finish.
  • MAKING IT PERSONAL: Sophomore Katie Lamanna (Constableville, N.Y.) set a personal best 5K time in 2013, completing the Cross Country Only Championships in 21:29.70 to eclipse her previous career-best time of 21:36.4 (09/07/13, Oswego State Invitational). Freshmen Jenn VanWormer (Phoenix, N.Y.) and Bailey Brown (Marcy, N.Y.) also contributed with personal best 5K times during the season that rank within the top 20 in team history.
  • 23 SKIDOO: Having graduated in three years, Middlebrook concludes her career with the Express having placed first for the team in 23-straight races dating back to the Wildcat Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 3, 2011, her first collegiate meet.
  • OFF AND RUNNING: Rising senior Anastasia Benson (Rockford, Ill.) has appeared in 24 cross country meets since joining the team in 2011, the fifth-most by any student-athlete in team history. The all-time Wells women's cross country record is 31 meets, held by Sarah Brenner '11.

SEASON RECAP VIDEO

VIDEO AVAILABLE IN 720p HIGH DEFINITION

2013 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

2013 NEAC Cross Country Championship Preview