The Brandeis cross country teams were split up this weekend and travelled to two different states to compete. The women’s team travelled to Winneconne, Wisconsin to compete in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Pre-National Invitational. The 18th-ranked Judges had a stand-out performance, boding well for the NCAA Division III National Championships, which will be held at the same course. The men’s team, along with a few runners from the women’s team, travelled more locally to Connecticut College. While they had some individual standout performances, as a team, they did not share the success of the women. Here is how the top performers on each team fared and how it contributed to the team’s overall success. 


UW-Oshkosh Invitational

The women’s team had an incredibly successful meet, placing third out of the 52 teams that competed, finishing behind only Washington University in St. Louis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As usual, the Judges were led by seniors Emily and Julia Bryson. Emily finished fourth overall with a time of 21:38.5. This was her fastest 6K time outside of a championship meet and just 15 seconds slower than the first place finisher. She was the top finisher in the New England region by over 30 seconds, a good indicator of future success in the New England Division III Regional Championship meet that takes place next month. Julia came in 28th place, with a time of 22:46.2. She was fifth among New England entrants, with three runners from MIT separating the two sisters. This was Julia’s third-fastest 6K run since competing at the collegiate level. Danielle Bertaux ’20 was the next to cross the finish line, placing 39th overall with a time of 23:00.05. This was her best finish as a Judge and only the second time she had finished as the team’s third place runner. Niamh Kenney ’21 was just six seconds shy of a top 50 finish. She placed 57th with a time of 23:16.3, good for her second fastest time in college. The next two runners from Brandeis were separated by just four places and two seconds. Captain Meaghan Barry ’19 was the team’s fifth finisher, placing 85th overall with a time of 23:39.2. Jac Guerra ’22 came in right behind her, placing 89th with a time of 23:31.6. Nearly two minutes later, Erin Magill ’22 rounded out the Brandeis top seven. Her time of 25:22.6 was good for 247th overall at the meet. 


Conn. College Invitational

The Judges also sent a delegation to the Connecticut College Invitational. They did not share in the success of the UW-Oshkosh group, finishing 20th out of 25 teams that competed. Doyin Ogundiran ’19 paced this group of Judges, covering the race in 23:33.5, good for 81st place. Andrea Bolduc ’21 was the team’s other notable finisher, placing 91st with a time of 23:44.6. 

On the men’s side, the team struggled at the Connecticut College Invitational, finishing near the bottom in 24th place. The team had five runners finish in scoring position. Josh Lombardo ’21 has been having a stellar season and leading the Judges. He was the team’s top performer for the second meet in a row, placing 93rd overall with a time of 26:24.4, his collegiate best. Coming in behind him, yet again, was Matthew Driben ’22. He finished 114th overall with a time of 26:37.0, 10 seconds shy of his best time which was set at the last meet. Dan Curley ’20 was the Judges' third finisher. He came in 204th place with a time of 27:23.2. Connor Crowley ’21 was next for the Judges. His time of 27:59.1 was good for 260th at the meet. This was the first time either Curley or Crowley had broken 28 minutes in an 8K. Sophomore Eric Rosenheim finished in 273rd with a time of 28.06.0, rounding out the Brandeis scorers. 

The teams will reunite and return to action in two weeks time when they travel to Parkside, Wisconsin to participate in the UAA championships.