NEC Championships on the docket Saturday for Cross Country

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University cross country team heads to New Britain, Connecticut, on Saturday for the third time this season. But when the starter pistol fires, it's not just an ordinary race around Stanley Quarter Park. This time, there's more on the line. This time, it's the Northeast Conference Championships.

"Everyone is in the right mind frame," said Bryant head cross country coach Noah Carroll. "Calm, but electric. The hay is in the barn at this point in time."

For a few members of the team, this will be the first championship run at the college level. Freshman Noah Tellier (North Kingstown, R.I.), who was named NEC Rookie of the Week after Bryant hosted the Nassaney Invitational, has said that the team has been trying to hone in and focus on what lies ahead.

"We want to make sure we're just focused in on the race. That's what we've been working on," Tellier said. "We're going to go on the course the day before the race so we can visualize the race. That's the plan so far. We're going to dress the same and build up the team mentality, an important thing for us going into the championship."

Tellier has been one of the top two Bryant runners in every course this season, with Ryan Poholek (North Attleboro, Mass.) also leading the pack of Bulldogs.

The team building that Tellier mentioned has also been a big part of the women's season. Senior captain Melissa Lodge (Hopkinton, Mass.) has said that the team has grown in part to each member owning what they can.

"I think focusing in on each aspect of what each individual brings to the team and working on that as well as keep each other accountable," Lodge said. "Whether it's after hard workout days or on recovery, anything in between, we've worked together and grown really close as a team. I think that can only help when you see your teammates succeed and working hard, you want to do the same. We've gotten all the training we can at this point, and Noah's done a great job priming us and getting us ready."

For Lodge, this will be her last NEC Championships at Bryant. She's not only excited to run a familiar course but to go against everyone in the conference bringing their A-game.

"This year going into Central Connecticut, we've run there twice already," Lodge said. "We've run there every year prior to this. It's really exciting knowing it will be a fair fight and it will be a battle."

Bryant members running in their final NEC Championships are Alexander Evans (Bow, N.H.), Robert McCabe (Marlborough, Mass.), Poholek, Lodge and Sarah Lapham (Greenwich, N.Y.).

The NEC Championships will begin with an 11 a.m. run for the men, while the women will compete at Noon. According to Carroll, there are a couple ways Bryant can get ready for this race.

"For us, we just need to stay healthy and get some rest," Caroll said. "As Michael Buffer puts it, 'Let's get ready to rumble.'"