Freshman sets all-time 5k record for Lesley XC

You may not have noticed Ana Lutkevich during pre-season. She was quiet, polite, and unassuming. We could see that she was working hard, but she barely said a word. She did not complain or ask too many questions. She just showed up everyday and did what she was told.

Since then, Ana has set the record for 5k at Smith College and UMASS Dartmouth. On Saturday, she ran 19:33 for 5k. Her 5:55 first mile was impressive to say the least, but it was her kick at the end that led to her record setting day. I believe, this was her fastest race ever. Not bad for her third week in college.

We are excited to have Ana because she comes from a strong high school program in Mansfield, MA. Clearly, she learned how to work hard and to finish strong from her successful high school coaches.

As the lead runner for the Lesley women, Ana has led the team to its best start ever. We place 17th on Saturday which topped our 36th place last year. Pretty amazing!

Nonetheless, we are glad Ana is here and we are excited to see where this talented runner will lead us in the future.

A Record Setting Day

On Saturday, Lesley University Cross Country had another big day. Our men's team started the day with huge performances from Kyle Casiglio, Chris Conforti, M.A. Boton-Rodriguez, and Roy Gabrielson.

Kyle Casiglio, in his first 5 mile race, broke the freshman record with a 26:36. His aggressive 5:15 first mile put him position to have such a dominant performance.

Chris Conforti has been battling a hip strain and still managed a 28:50 for 5 miles. It was a strong performance and we are excited to see what he can do when he runs even paces and gets his hip healthy.

M.A. B-R, was a force Saturday. He ran a smart race and turned it on at the end. His strong effort with 400m to go allowed him to break 31 minutes and be our 4th runner.

Roy Gabrielson came into this season on a mission. He cut his personal best by 2 minutes! Roy is ready to be a regular contributor to this team and we need him.

The Lesley men's program placed 28th, which was the highest they have ever placed.

2010 XC Pre-Season

The 2010 Lesley XC pre-season is upon us all. It is truly an exciting time. I am excited to see my new recruits arrive. I am excited to see my returners in shape and ready to break their PR's. I am excited for the possibility of success.

We are currently in Stowe, VT at the Round Hearth @ Stowe. We have been here for three days and already have accomplished so much.

When we arrived we immediately jumped out of the van and went for our first run. It was a "shake out" to help with the stiffness from a long car ride. We ate dinner, showered, and then we were off to our first team meeting. It was a long day but worth every minute.

Day two was no different. We woke up and went for an easy run, had breakfast, and packed up for our 5 hour hike up Mt. Mansfield. It was long but so much fun. The view was spectacular and lunch never tasted so good.

After the hike, we didn't do much of anything but relax. We played a few games including "Ho Down" and "Psychologist". Both of which got us laughing and getting to know each others names.

I emphasize the team building piece because it helps the freshman feel like they belong. Team building is a good transition to our "family first" mentality. "Family first" is something that is special to Lesley XC. There is an understanding that the XC team is your family and you have a responsibility to look out for your family. The newbies don't understand this concept yet, but they will soon enough.

Day 3 was really productive. I had one-on-one meetings with all of my new runners, we ran a hilly trail, swam in a watering hole, had a bonfire with Smores, and played more games. Solid day.

Our last day is tomorrow and we are looking forward to running easy and taking a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory.

This trip has been so valuable and it plays a big role in our success as a team. Please join us for the President's Cup this Saturday at the Cold Springs Park in Newtonville, MA. Women's race starts at 10am and the Men start at 11am.