Johns Hopkins Women's Cross Country Season In Review

Blue Jays Returned Best Season In Program History

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Hiza helped the Blue Jays to its most successful season in school history.

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Dec. 15, 2008

Season In Review

2008 Cumulative Statistics

BALTIMORE, MD - After making its first appearance in program history at the NCAA Championship in 2007, the Johns Hopkins women's cross country team came back in 2008 to dominate the Mideast region en route to its best season on record.

The Blue Jays came off the line at the Baltimore Metro Invitational on September 5 to win the meet for the first time and set the tone for 2008.

Hopkins flew past five Centennial Conference opponents, among 10 other teams, to win the Dickinson Long/Short Invitational on September 20. Junior Laura Paulsen won the invitational to lead JHU.

The following week, Hopkins finished third behind Michigan State and host William & Mary at the Colonial Inter Regional Challenge on September 27.

The Blue Jays returned to action on October 11 at the Disney Classic in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Up against plenty of Division I and Division II teams, JHU did not back down, finishing sixth out of 44 complete teams, remaining undefeated amongst Division III schools in 2008.

Hopkins raced at Gettysburg on October 18 for its final regular season showdown. The meet served as a preview for the Centennial Conference Championship to come as the Blue Jays won the invitational with a phenomenal comeback after a slight navigation mishap to begin the race. Paulsen won her second race of the season at Gettysburg.

On November 1, the Blue Jays returned to the battlefield, looking for a repeat from the Gettysburg Invitational two weeks prior. Hopkins won its first Centennial Conference Championship, as Paulsen became the first individual conference champion in program history. Mira Patel, Cecilia Furlong, Emma Hiza, Rachel Hogen, Mary O'Grady and Christina Valerio each finished in the top 20. Paulsen, Patel, Furlong, and Hogen each earned All-Centennial honors. Van Allen was later named Centennial Conference Coach of the Year as a reflection of his team's accomplishments.

Coming off a high-note, the Blue Jays headed to Hanover, IN for the Mideast Regional Championship. Hopkins emerged with its first regional title while placing five on the All-Region team (Paulsen, Patel, Hiza, Furlong and Hogen).

Earning its first automatic bid, Hopkins made its second all-time appearance to the NCAA Championship, repeating its 2007 berth. The Blue Jays improved 16 spots in team scoring from 2007 to finish at No. 13 in 2008. Paulsen earned All-America honors as she finished 31st. Patel also finished in the top 50, earning 41st, just missing All-America honors.

Van Allen was named Mideast Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA after leading the Blue Jays back to the national championship meet.

Hopkins will lose two seniors in Emma Hiza and Rachel Hogen to return five of its top seven from its record-breaking season. Exhibiting consistent improvement throughout the season, the Blue Jays will be a team to watch in 2009 after becoming a mainstay in the national team rankings in 2008.