Lester '18 Sweeps Cross Country Championships

Page Lester '18 completed a sweep of the season-ending cross country championships by setting a course record on Saturday, Nov. 12, in the Maryland/D.C. Private School Championships.

 

Her time of 17:59 at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, Md., was also her third personal best in as many weeks, and it sliced 20 seconds off her time on the same course Oct. 29 in the Independent School League championship.

 

Margaret Thoren '17 finished in 14th place, completing a successful senior season that also saw top-12 finishes at the ISL championships, which gathers the area's independent schools, and the D.C. State Athletic Association championships on Nov. 5, which included runners from independent and public schools.

 

This May, Lester was named the city's track-and-field athlete of the year, and she continued that success this season in cross country. She won her final four races this season, including the ISL championship (for the second time in three years), the DCSAA championship, and the private-school championship. The DCSAA named her the Girls' MVP of its meet.

 

The NCS cross country team took fourth place in the ISL team competition and fifth place in the DCSAA team competition.

 

"Page's season has been remarkable for a number of reasons," head coach Jim Ehrenhaft said. "Certainly because of her outstanding finishes and her personal bests, but perhaps what's most impressive is that she is coming off of a foot injury she sustained while training for the Junior National Triathlon Championships and has been held back from rigorous workouts.

 

"Her achievements are a classic example of an honest approach to training and reaping dividends. Page is benefiting from the reservoir of aerobic strength she has built up over time, and just as importantly, from her competitiveness."