Nationals Results (1975 and 1977)
On November 15, 1975 Bates finished 12th out of 39 teams at the third-ever NCAA Division III National Championships, held that year at Franklin Park in Boston. Bates was the top NESCAC finished in the meet, as Williams, the only other conference member in attendance, finished in 19th. Paul Operowski '78 was Bates' top finisher, running 25:33 - good enough for 57th place out of 295 runners, and only about a minute behind the overall winner. Bruce Merrill '76 was right behind in 60th place with a time of 25:35.
Two years later on November 12, 1977 Bates finished 6th out of 52 teams in the same meet, this year held at Highland Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio. Running on a snow covered course in 32 degree weather, Greg Peters '80 finished 10th out of 396 with a time of 26:18 (overall winner's time was 25:44). Oparowski improved 39 places upon his 1975 performance, finishing in 18th place in 26:23. Once again, Williams finished in 19th and was again the only other NESCAC team to participate.
Patrick "Ira" Wales-Dinan '05 managed to track down these results, which offer a glimpse back to the time of bell bottoms and Led Zeppelin, and when the Bates Men's harriers were their presence known as top runners. Some twenty years later after a team trip in 2004 to Nationals, Bates will hope revisit Nationals with its current team led by fearless leaders Matthew J. Biggart and Daniel V. Johnson. Will they make their alumni proud....?