Full Results (PDF)
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Cornell women's cross country team, currently in the "receiving votes" category of the Division I pre-reason national poll, opened the 2014 campaign with a promising performance against Army on Friday afternoon.  Racing on a picture perfect late summer day at the hilly West Point golf course and ski slopes, the Big Red  took the top four spots and 17 of the first 18 places to defeat the Black Knights 16-47.  Sophomore Taylor Spillane led the way for the Big Red, claiming first in leading wire-to-wire, as she cruised to victory in an outstanding 17:11.09 for the demanding 5000 meter layout on the West Point golf course and ski slopes.
 
Spillane led throughout and was followed by junior tri-captain Caroline Kellner, who held a firm grip on second place after the first mile, ultimately placing second in 17:32.59.  Classmate Kristen Niedrach came on very strongly to place third in 17:44.24, a 46 second improvement from the same course as two years ago.  Senior Bori Tozser had a fine race as well, placing fourth in 17:45.61, 36 seconds better than in 2012.  Junior Claire DeVoe rounded out the top five for the Big Red with another 36 second improvement, crossing the line in 17:50.86, which was good for sixth place.  Senior Christine Driscoll had the best race so far in her Cornell cross country career, running 18:02.95 (65 seconds faster than two years ago) for seventh while junior Corey Dowe ran an assertive race to close out the Big Red top seven with an eighth place run of 18:08.20 (51 seconds faster than two years ago).
 
The Big Red displayed remarkable depth and had more runners break 18:30 on the challenging course than at any previous meet here.  Freshman Anne Charles had an impressive collegiate debut, running 18:10.88 for ninth while junior Maggi Szpak set another course PR with a time of 18:13.37 for tenth.  Sophomore Delphi Cleaveland ran a 5K PR of 18:14.91 in eleventh and freshman Erin McLaughlin crossed the line twelfth in a very good 18:16.89.  There were good competitive efforts from senior Syd Williams, who was 13th in 18:23.19 and from junior Meghan McCormick, who was 14th in 18:25.99.  Junior Kate McCormick was over 90 seconds faster than her freshman year, running 18:26.73 for 15th while freshman Leah Triller ran very well to get 16th in 18:27.45.  Also at the 18:30 barrier were two more freshmen:  Shannon Hugard (17th, 18:29.19) and Greta Sloan (18th, 18:30.56). 
 
Several other Cornellians ran well:  freshmen Devinne Cullinane (21st, 18:42.6)), sophomore Abbie Bideaux (24th, 18:50.82), freshman Gillian McIlroy (25th, 18:56.38), junior Sarah Holl (26th, 18:58.42 a 60 second improvement from 2012), freshman Jessica Elliott (27th, 19:01.62), junior Ann Herman (28th, 19:19.28), freshman Jackie Katzman (29th, 19:40.64), freshman Kyle Oefelein (34th, 20:30.70) and senior tri-captain Casey Phlegar (37th, 21:23.50).
 
Next up for the Big Red is a weekend off followed by two meets on the weekend of Sept. 26-27.  The team will compete at the nationally competitive "Coast to Coast Battle of Beantown" hosted by Boston College at Franklin Park on the Friday, Sept. 26. The team will also be represented at the Roberts Wesleyan Harry F. Anderson Invitational in Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 27.