Hannah Cole '17 (l.) & Lacey Serletti '16.

Williams head coach Peter Farwell enters his 15th season at the helm of Eph women's team and coming off a second place finish at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

Eleven times in 14 seasons Farwell has guided the Ephs to a top five finish including winning the NCAA Championship in 2002 and 2004.

Of the eight runners traveling to the 2013 NCAA Championship race five will not be returning to compete this fall. Kaleigh Kenny, who claimed All-America honors with a third place finish, Shayna Barbash who was the fourth scoring Eph runner to finish, Brianne Mirecki, and alternate Louisa Lee have all graduated.

In addition to the loss of the four graduating seniors, junior Molly Belk who last year participated in her first competitive cross country season and was the Ephs' third scorer at the NCAA Championship race will be studying abroad during the fall semester.

Belk just missed earning All-American honors (top 35) when she finished 39th.

The graduated seniors were strong contributors to Ephs' success over their four years, a time span in which the Ephs did not finish out of the top five.

Alison Smith '15

Headlining the list of three returnees from last fall's NCAA Championship race is sophomore Hannah Cole. Cole was 29th overall and earned All-America honors. She also competed in the NCAA Division I Nordic Skiing Championship, and then earned her second All-America honor in track & field when she came in sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Coach Farwell exclaims, "Hannah had a year to remember, outperforming expectations each of these three seasons, with an uncanny ability to peak both physically and mentally. She is always one we can count on."

Senior captain Alison Smith finished 73rd last fall at the NCAA race and was the fifth scoring runner for the Ephs. Smith is a battle tested veteran who will be a strong presence for the younger Eph runners to learn from. Smith earned All-America honors in 2011 with a 33rd place finish. Last fall she also finished 33rd at the New England Championships and 25th at the NESCAC Championships.

Anna Spiers '15 (l.) & Meg Richardson '16

Farwell will count on two more senior captains Amelia Ortiz and Anna Spiers who with Smith will lead his young squad by example and with enthusiasm, while providing stability and experience. "This is a great trio of captains who each compete to their max and fully embrace our team and its traditions," says coach Farwell.

Ortiz ran at the 2012 NCAA Championships and was the Ephs fifth scorer in that race and last fall she finished eighth in the ECAC Championship race, while classmate Ana Spiers took seventh in the race. In 2011 Spiers was the seventh Eph to finish at the NCAA Championship race and also placed fifth in the NESCAC championship.

Lacey Serletti, a junior, was the seventh runner competing for the Ephs at the 2013 NCAA championship race after finishing 41st at the New England NCAA Regional. At the NESCAC Championships Serletti posted a 21st place finish. "Lacey always gives her all, made great strides in track with speedy 3k and 5k times, and will be in our lead group this season," exudes coach Farwell.

Amelis Ortiz '15

Farwell has a knack of developing runners who blossom during their time at Williams above what may have been projected upon their arrival. Sophomores Emma Zehner, Maggie Peard and Nina Pande, juniors Meg Richardson and Kathryn McNaughton, plus senior Talia Calnek-Sugin would seem to fit that mold. Coach Farwell notes, "Talia has lots of talent, and if she can stay injury-free could make an impact. Emma made big breakthroughs in her distance running last track season and should move up well to our main pack this season."

Farwell will also be welcoming a 13-member first year class to provide a runner or two to push for a spot in the top seven. Among those are Stella Waters of Charlton, Mass., and Anna Harleen of Ross, Calif. Coach Farwell comments; "We have a talented Class of 2018 bringing lots of spirit, cross country experience, and track speed to the team. That will provide not just depth to strengthen our 'Second Seven,' but some who as they make the transition to collegiate competition, will be pacing with our top seven pack."

As always the key for Farwell is to have his team peaking for the Little Three Championship, NESCACs, and the NCAA New England Regional so the Ephs can extend their streak of consecutive NCAA appearances to 22.

The Ephs will open their 2014 campaign with the informal Co-Ed Relays to be hosted by Middlebury on Sept. 6 and will compete in their first scoring meet when they compete in the RPI Invite in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

On Nov. 15 Williams will host, for the third time, the NCAA Regional on their scenic and spectator-friendly home course at Mount Greylock Regional School.

• Other Local Sites

• Photos

• Most Read

• Most Comments

• All News

• Events at Williams

• Photos