Varsity Highlights

The Pioneer Men came out to race today at the Brother Rice Invitational on a very soggy course at Kensington Metro Park.  This is the first big meet of the season, and everyone came out to do their best.  The rain pelted the park for several hours before the race, but thankfully, the skies eventually cleared and the moisture dried up – in the air if not from the mud – by race time.

The varsity squad ran first, and the Pioneers drew a position on the north side of the wide line-up.  They charged off the line and pushed for position amongst the masses of runners going into the narrowing path.  Galen Burrell, Costa Willets and Eddie Codrington led the purple singlets but were buried deep in the middle of the dozens of other colors streaking by. Following in a stretched-out line were teammates Dean Brigham, Max Shpilband, Boris Burrell, and Nick Aukerman.  This was Nick's first race as a varsity runner, and he didn't let nerves effect his focus and determination.  At the first mile mark, Galen, Costa and Eddie  had moved up to 18th,19th  and 20th position.  The racers charged back towards the woods with the hill, and Pioneers emerged from the second mile having moved up to 13th - 16th positions.  Galen put on a Titan's charge toward the finish and passed other runners on the way.  He crossed the finish line in 5th place overall, with an exciting sprint and a great competitive showing.  Costa finished 20th, then Dean and Max were just behind him, in 29th and 33rd.  Eddie fell back a bit from fatigue.  It was tough churning through the mud today.  Boris and Nick were near each other at the end, urging each other on through the chute.  The men will likely work on race strategy and working in pairs or trios as the season wears on, but had a fair showing for a slippery day.  Special congratulations to Galen for a really strong run and to Nick for a great effort in the all-important seventh-man slot.  The Pioneers earned a third place finish in the team standings.