All-American senior Ferrell leads women's cross country

During her three years at Princeton, senior captain Cack Ferrell has established herself as one of the top women's cross-country runners in the nation while leading the Tigers to two top-20 national team rankings.

Now, with one season left in her career, Ferrell and her teammates — who open the season ranked No. 18 in the country — are aiming even higher.

"I think my team would agree with me in saying we have the potential to make this a great year," Ferrell said.

On the men's side, Princeton simply hopes to get back on track after struggling last fall with multiple injuries, an unusually young team and a new coach.

"It wasn't until around the middle of the indoor season last year that the distance team really began running up to its potential," sophomore Dave Nightingale said. "I think our first race [this season] showed our improved fitness and racing tactics."

In an auspicious opening meet, both teams took first place at the Fordham Cross Country Invitational, outrunning powerhouse Providence and Ivy League rivals including Yale and Penn.

Both teams are also fortunate to have a strong class of incoming freshmen. On the men's side, freshmen such as Michael Maag, Brian Sharkey and Brett Campfield are poised to make an impact by the end of the season.

"There is some talent in this class, and they seem to be handling the adjustment to college running well," men's captain senior Frank Macreery said.

Along with its large class of 11 recruits and several walk-ons, the men's team is returning six of its top seven runners.

Fresh talent also abounds on the women's side.

"We are returning five of our top seven, but we have new freshman talent as well as some returning sophomores and juniors that did impressive training over the summer to bump them to a new level," Ferrell said.

Indeed, over the summer, the Tigers did more than simply keep in shape. Some members of the team ventured to California on their own to take part in high altitude training around Mammoth Lakes.

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"The best part about being out there was that we were able to focus entirely on training," junior Paul Rosa said.

The nine runners who took part in the trip spent three weeks honing their running skills, at times reaching altitudes of nine or 10 thousand feet.

"[The trip] was great because it allowed us to take a significant period of time and concentrate on nothing except running well and being a team," senior Chas Ballew said.

Team spirit is certainly not lacking among the runners. Both the men's and the women's teams are looking to stand out among their competitors, both within the Ivy League and nationally.

"One thing's for sure: Princeton is tired of being undervalued and overlooked, and this is going to be the year that the naysayers are quelled," Macreery said. "We want to win right now, this season, and that's what we're going to do."

As the Tigers continue their preparations for the season ahead, they must be particularly cautious to avoid injuries. Freshmen adjusting to the longer races of college cross-country are particularly prone to their bodies breaking down during the season.

"I think staying healthy is the key for us," men's head coach Fred Samara said.

Nonetheless, the overriding tone is one of optimism.

"If there is any year that Princeton XC will do well, it is this year," Ballew said. "We have the talent, the experience and the desire to put in the preparation to win."