Middlebury Women Win 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championship

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Middlebury women’s cross country team won its first national championship on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. Williams posted top-five finishes in the women’s and men’s races, including a runner-up finish to Middlebury in the women’s race.

Junior Jessica Johnston, the 2000 NESCAC Women’s Cross Country Performer of the Year, recorded a team-best eighth-place finish to lead Middlebury to the team title. She was joined in earning All-America honors by teammate Kasie Wallace, who placed 13th. Senior Joey Shapiro was the top runner for Williams, placing third individually. Also earning All-America honors for Williams were sophomore Julia Bensen (29th place) and senior Courtney Bennigson (31st). Hamilton and Amherst finished 15th and 16th, respectively, in the women’s championship. Freshman Kaitlin Nelson was the top runner for Hamilton, finishing 19th overall, and junior Katie Scangos led Amherst with a 25th-place finish. Nelson and Scangos each earned All-America accolades. Colby placed 24th in the championship with senior Tiffany Frazar leading the way.

Four other NESCAC individuals also competed in the women’s championship, which featured 211 runners. Senior Leslie Crofton of Tufts finished fifth overall. Other runners included Maura Danahy (35th place) and Jennifer Stieg (41st) of Connecticut College, and freshman Meredith Godreau (88th) of Bowdoin. Crofton and Danahy earned All-America honors.

In the men’s race, Williams finished 5th, Tufts 11th, and Trinity 14th. Three Williams runners earned All-America recognition. Senior Dusty Lopez (24th), senior Tim Campbell (31st), and sophomore Andy Golden (33rd) led the way for the Ephs. Senior David Patterson of Tufts finished 19th overall and senior Todd Markelz of Trnity placed 32nd as each earned a spot on the All-American team. Junior Stephen Allison of Bowdoin, the 2000 NESCAC Men’s Cross Country Performer of the Year, earned All-America accolades with his 16th-place finish.

Several other NESCAC individuals also compete in the men’s championship, which featured 215 runners. Sophomore Justin Easter (37th) of Bates, sophomore Todd Forsgren (38th) of Bowdoin, and sophomore David Clayman (41st) of Connecticut College all finished the eight-kilometer race in under 26 minutes. Junior Darren Dlugo of Connecticut College and freshman Nat Brown of Colby also ran well in the championship.