Jumbos Take ECAC Title

(11/6/2004) Full Results

Thirty-four teams from throughout the Northeast converged on Tufts Veterinary School for the 2004 ECAC Championship. The Tufts men took first for the second year in a row (and the fourth time in six years) with a low score of 70, beating out the Williams squad's 82. The Jumbo runners comprising the varsity team were the team's "second seven" as the team's top seven awaited the upcoming New England regional qualifier. But in Saturday's meet, the team was second to no one, a testament to the depth of the Tufts cross country team.

The race marked the final cross country race for senior Michael Don. The psychology major was a stand-out for the Clayton (Missouri) High School Greyhounds and was voted most likely to become a neat guy. Indeed, he has matured considerably as a member of the Tufts distance team, and leaves a legacy of being really, really cool. Mike Don placed third for the team at the day's race, seventeenth overall.

With the support of the rest of the team, their families, and such Jumbo super-fans as Mr. Rosen, the squad ran a strong group race on Grafton's hilly farm course. The Jumbos were paced by sophomores Justin Chung and Chad Uy. Chung ran strong throughout, fending off a late charge and taking 4th place overall. Uy worked his way through the pack to take 8th place.

The team's scoring five was rounded out by junior Michael Cummings (23rd) and sophomore Peter Goransson (25th). Interestingly, both runners have generously volunteered their families cars for the expected roadtrip to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for the upcoming Nationals meet.

Junior Neil Orfield of Burnsville, Minnesota and sophomore Peter Orth of Weston, Massachusetts finished sixth and seventh for the Jumbos. The Jumbos now turn to their top seven runners for the New England Div. III Championship, where the squad hopes to earn one of four spots to represent New England at the National Championship.


Full Results