Faller 2nd Overall, Advances to National Championships

(11/15/2008) Full Results

As the teams headed to the line for the 2008 New England Cross Country Championships this weekend at Williams College, they were greeted by driving wind and rain. The Jumbos toed the line looking to build on their 4th place finish at the NESCAC Championships from two weeks prior. In each of the last five years, the Jumbos have matched or improved upon their NESCAC finish at the Regional Qualifier. When all the points were scored, this year would end that streak as the Jumbos finished just outside the top 10 in 11th place.

Junior Jesse Faller improved on last year’s 3rd place finish, moving up one spot to 2nd. The Jumbos’ lone qualifier to the NCAA Championships this weekend at Hanover College in Indiana, Faller will look to add another All American plaque to his resume. Last fall, he was the region’s top finisher at the National Championships with his 18th place result.

Behind Faller, junior co-captain Nick Welch, classmate Ryan Lena, and sophomores Chris Brunnquell, and Jeff Ragazzini rounded out the scoring five for the Tufts squad. Sophomore Jerzy Eisenberg Guyot and freshman Connor Rose followed closely behind to finish off the varsity 7. Welch looked primed for a breakthrough race after his 7th place finish at the NESCAC Championships, but a poorly timed late-season sickness would hamstring him heading into the race. Welch was still able to gut through an impressive 45th place finish. After finishing inside the top 35 in each of his first two seasons at Tufts, this could be seen from the outside as a step backwards. On the other hand, given the circumstances, it could also be seen as one of his more impressive performances.

Lena, Brunnquell, Ragazzini, and Rose all ran strong races in their first trips to the national qualifier. All four had great seasons taking their training and fitness to new levels. Brunnquell had one of the strongest races of the day for the Jumbos as he moved up consistently throughout the entire race. Normally running in the 6th spot for the team, Chris finished 4th this weekend.

When all was said and done, the Jumbos were more than a few places away from their goal going into the meet, but only a stone’s throw away in points. With a mere 61 points separating 5th and 11th this weekend, the wind and rain did a great job leveling the playing field. Given the fact that these seven were the only team inside the top 30 teams to toe the line without a senior bodes well for next year. The Jumbos return 13 of their top 14 for next year and should see some healthy competition push them to new heights. That said, in a region that boasts so much youth, it will never be anything but a dogfight to try and earn a berth to nationals. Things look promising for both the future of TUXC and New England as a region. Good luck to Jesse Faller and the rest of the New England qualifiers at the National Championships next week.


Full Results