Van Cortlandt Park is regarded nationwide as one of the most challenging cross country courses that a collegiate athlete will face. Located in the middle of the Bronx, the course manages to have it all — the flats, the rolling backhills and of course the dreaded Cemetery Hill. Despite facing their toughest competition yet this season, along with the gut wrenching tales of Van Cortlandt Park, the Blue Jays rose to the occasion during the highly anticipated Iona College Meet of Champions on Sept. 16.
Leading the women was sophomore Felicia Koerner, who finished second overall in the race and was subsequently named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division II and Centennial Conference Runner of the Week. Koerner battled for the lead with Iona’s Teghan Henderson throughout the 5K and would finish second among DI opponents by just four seconds. Impressively, the sophomore would cross the line in 18:11, a full 25 seconds faster than her time on the same exact course in 2015.
With Koerner leading the way, the next four Blue Jays would finish shortly thereafter, leaving a gap of only 37 seconds between the University’s top five runners. Sophomore Natalia LaSpada and freshman Rebecca Grusby were next to cross the line for Hopkins after Koerner, running 18:35 and 18:41 respectively. This was one of the smallest gaps between five scoring runners in Hopkins history, with all the Jays finishing under 19:00. Excelling among stiff DI competition and dominating the team slate, the performance was a clear testament to the “pack running” strategy that has been a focal point in the Jays’ training this season.
The men, led by senior Schaffer Ochstein, had an equally impressive showing, coming away with the team win among the non-DI teams and a number of individual triumphs. Ochstein, who placed 14th overall, was just 30 seconds behind the first-place winner and led the way for the non-DI athletes to cross the line in 26:22 for the 8,000 meter race. Ochstein was followed by sophomore Alex Doran, and freshman Scott Pourshalchi, both able to finish in the top 25.
Placing second for the Jays, Doran had a breakthrough performance, running the best race of his collegiate career thus far. Adapting to his first season as a collegiate runner last year, Doran’s performance in the 2015 season was inconsistent.
“Over the summer I tried to reflect on what I learned from struggling in my freshman year. I came into this season much more optimistic and confident about my ability,” Doran said. “Van Cortlandt is a tough course because there are so many big hills and uneven footing in the woods. After finding out how difficult the course was last season, I knew what to expect this time around which helped a lot. I was much more prepared to tackle the race.”
Additionally, Doran mentioned that the team dynamics helped everyone to embrace the hills and not be afraid to start the race faster than what is comfortable. In races packed with stiff competition, it is important to get off the line fast. The Jays’ notable performance this past week keeps them optimistic.
“I think the team is in great shape to contend for the Centennial Conference championship, but our ultimate goal as a team is to place top 10 at nationals,” Doran said. “Everyone has been looking really strong, and we can only get better from here, so I am excited to see how the rest of the season plays out.”
The Blue Jays will have some down time until their next race this season scheduled for Oct. 1. The team will split up as runners will be participating in both the Great Louisville Classic in Louisville, Ky. and the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.
