2003-2004 Season Summary: Girls' Cross Country

Girls Cross Country had a strong season in 2003, led by newcomers Sonia Le Goff, Emily Reynolds, Emma Bast, Sarah Atwell, Lara Schmitz and Johanna Strunz with returning support from Jacqueline Regan, Captain Chelsea Spensley, Genny Fultz, Katya Chupryna, Courtney Comstock and Liz McErlean. Over the course of the season the girls dedicated every practice to improving themselves and as a result trimmed between two to thirteen minutes from their 5K times of early season, reflecting their focus and motivation on the trail and road. Working well together, Le Goff, Reynolds and Bast were unified in their determination to win, and gathered the team behind their cause. Atwell, Spensley and Chupryna, each battling injury, rallied during critical competitions to support the squad, and Fultz and Strunz made significant progress in reaching personal goals. Regan was always there when needed most, rounding out the top five regularly.

Coach Biography: Michelle O'Brien, Asst. Coach

Coach O'Brien started running competitively in 8th grade and then ran four years for Taft's varsity cross country team and one year for the track team. O'Brien was captain of the girls' team in her senior year. O'Brien did not run competitively in college (Williams College), as tutoring, work-study job, and orchestra rehearsals (not to mention studying!) prevented her from giving that much time to a varsity sport. O'Brien took up distance running again the summer after college and is now running daily, trying to work up mileage for a couple road races a year.