Baker and Helms Qualify for NCAAs; Cross Country Finishes Strong

The Harvard men's and women's cross-country teams will both be sending one runner to the NCAA tournament next week.

Junior captain Edward Baker (30:21) and senior Bethany Helms (17:34) placed ninth in their respective men's and women's races at the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday at Franklin Park, Boston. As a result, the Baker and Helms will advance to the NCAA cross-country meet at the University of Indiana on Monday, November 22.

The men's team (226 points) ran its best race of the season, placing 8th out- of 33 teams and beating Yale for the first time this year. The women's squad (228 points) was successful as well, as many runners ran personal best times on the course, helping the team to a 9th place finish.

Harvard Men

Baker's race was especially impressive because he ran ten kilometers for the first time of the season, in place of the regular eight-kilometer race run in the other meets.,

For this race, Baker had finally recovered from his sore calves, injuries he suffered two weeks ago at Heptagonals .

"I was a bit worried about this race after my disappointing race at Heps," Baker said. "In fact, I didn't even think there was a chance that I would make it to Nationals."

Baker felt strong throughout the long race and was able to pull through as the top Harvard runner. During the past two weeks, he had been doing short and fast workouts to help him improve his speed. He felt that his training at 4:40 mile intervals made the 4:50 mile pace much easier to run in the race.

"My calves were better, and as soon as the gun went off, I knew that it was going to be a good race," Baker said. "My breathing was under control, and I felt very relaxed. I had a good rhythm going that lasted the whole 6.2 miles."

Senior Dave Martin (30:41) placed second for the Crimson and 18th overall in the meet. While Baker and Martin both passed the five-mile mark in their fastest times ever on the Franklin Park course, Martin was a little too late in making his move to the front of the pack in the race.

The team was pleased with its performance Saturday and considers the race a good end to the cross-country season for the runners who did not advance to the NCAAs. Before the team looks ahead to the indoor season, however, it will be cheering for Baker.

"I can't wait," Baker said. "It's going to be the biggest and most exciting race of my life."

Harvard Women

Helms' qualifying performance on Saturday proved to be especially amazing as she ran a personal record on the Franklin Park course.

"I was incredibly happy with my race," Helms said. "I ran a 26-second personal record, which I wasn't expecting."

She started faster than she usually does at the beginning of the race and then faded to about 30th place during the second mile. But, the difference in this race, Helms thinks, was the speed she picked up at the end of the second mile and beginning of the third.

"I picked up my pace much more gradually throughout these portions of the race and started my kick much earlier, with about 600 to 800 meters to go, because I usually have too much in the end of my races," Helms said. "So I think that allowed for my time drop and for a much better placing than I was expecting."

Helms had been feeling sick the past two weeks, and so she had kept her training pretty light. She supposes she will follow a similarly relaxed routine for the next week leading up to the NCAAs. But, then again, this will be her first time running in Nationals and so she isn't sure what she will do.

"Heck, I don't know what I'll do in the coming week," Helms said. "I haven't done this before!"

Along with Helms, most runners on the team ran strong races. Junior Mary Unsworth (17:57) ran an exceptional race, breaking eighteen minutes for the first time, and finishing 30th overall. Her race was a personal best on the course by about 40 seconds. Senior Kim Megdanis broke nineteen minutes for the first time, giving her a ten-second personal best.

"It was an amazing way to end the season and get people excited for the indoor season," Helms said.