Ferrell consistently excelled as Tigers' top runner

Among the dozens and dozens of races senior Cack Ferrell has run in her four year Princeton career, there have been no shortage of masterful performances. The Minneapolis, Minn., native has earned All-America honors six times — three each in cross country and indoor track — and has been named Athlete of the Meet at various Ivy League and ECAC championship meets.

In other words, attempting to select the greatest performance of Ferrell's personal career is a rather daunting task, a bit like trying to single out Babe Ruth's most awe-inspiring home run or Michael Jordan's most spectacular dunk: it's really just a matter of personal preference.

Perhaps you prefer the race that earned her All-America status for the first time, in November of her sophomore year. Less than 500 meters into the NCAA cross-country championship race in Waterloo, Iowa, Ferrell got tangled up with a fallen runner and hit the deck, cutting herself badly enough that she later needed stitches. But she wasn't about to let a bit of blood stand in her way, so she got back up and finished in 21st place, helping the Tigers to ninth place in the country overall, the best finish in program history.

Maybe you prefer the race she ran in March of her junior year in Fayetteville, Ark., at the NCAA indoor track and field championship meet. Competing in the 3000m event, Ferrell led the race for several laps, ultimately finishing third two seconds — two measly seconds — behind the national champion.

Or you might prefer one of her races from this season: the 10th place finish in 20 minutes, four seconds at NCAA cross country championships in November; the fourth place finish in 9:13.42 in the 3000m race at NCAA indoor championships in March; the back-to-back victories in the 3000m and 5000m at Ivy League Heptagonals last Sunday.

The true measure of Ferrell's greatness, of course, is that she ran all of those races. Time and again, when it mattered most, she stepped to the starting line and delivered. Over the last four years, she has accomplished as much as any Orange and Black-garbed athlete, and her senior season has arguably been her most impressive yet. Through it all, she has remained gracious and humble, consistently deflecting praise to her teammates and coaches.

In recognition of these accomplishments, the 'Prince' is proud to name Cack Ferrell its 2005-2006 Female Athlete of the Year.