FALL 2016

Coach James:

Lisle Schaffer ('14) at the Hartford Marathon 

Despite the unseasonable warm couple days here, autumn has arrived in the Hudson Valley. Mid terms are mostly done, October break is here, and the leaves are in full color on the mountain. Last weekend was a perfect kickoff to the championships season with an outstanding race from the men at Rowan that moved them up into the top 7 of the region with a 25:32 1-5 average and a 49 second 1-5 spread. The women moved back up to 2nd in the 7 Sisters, narrowly missing out to Wellesley after controlling the first 2/3s of the race in a dominant fashion. The teams are on the rise, and it is exciting to have the momentum carrying us forward into the League and Regional meets!

Women's Team Post 2016 Seven Sister's Championship

Our mantra of the season has been process first - keeping our focus on training effectively, both physically and mentally, enjoying that hard work and bringing an enthusiastic attitude to practice and competition. As coaches, we are clear that our real job here is to prepare VassarXCTF students not just to run well at the races, but to encourage them to develop the skills they need to be successful and happy in all parts of their life. In interviewing Tracy Nichols for this quarterly, it was a good reminder that this is the way it has always been. All successful athletes from VassarXCTF have found a way to embody the best competitive skills and apply them to life beyond college running too, whether it is Tracy finding the confidence and swerve to realize her dreams or Elizabeth Forbes knitting her passions for ecology and art (see the alumni in the news section!).

Sammie Creath ('12) at the 2016 Ron Stonistch Invitational 

Vassar Athletics as a whole is looking to more directly mentor these skills with the current students with our new RISE programing. The RISE program (Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Excellence) brings speakers to campus to talk to student-athletes, as well as simple programing like the practice resume drop we held today, where students could drop a resume off at the start of practice to be evaluated by our Career Development Office staff, and pick it up after with comments and tips for future edits. It’s often the little things we can do for each other that help everyone get the most out of their time with the VassarXCTF Family!

Carl Johnson ('00) and Coach James - once teammates - at RSI

As the days continue to shorten and the cooler weather (hopefully!) returns, we look forward to finishing this season with a bang. And, we also look forward to the ever continuing process of helping all of our students develop their abilities to their highest level of capability - both on and off the track! 

-James

Aubree Peipmeier ('14) and James at the track this summer prior to her UK Season