The 2000 Bobcats had seven individuals post times under 20 minutes, the most ever for a Bates squad. A young group of improved veterans, including Abby Anthony '03, Leigh Johnson '03 and Elizabeth Wallace '03 inspired the new members through their weekly improvement. Twelve different individuals placed among the top seven throughout the season. Individual highlights were plentiful. Abby Anthony became the second Bates woman ever to win a State of Maine championship. Her 10th place finish at the Open New England championships was the best ever by a Bobcat woman. Senior captain Katie Parker '01 placed 35th at the New England NCAA qualifying meet with a time of 18:48, earning her second career All-Region honor.

Overall for the season, Bates compiled an 85-80 record, including a victory at the Tufts Hayseed Classic to open the season. The Bobcats went on to finish third in the State of Maine, 13th at the ECAC championships and 16th at the Division III New Englands. The team looked to build on its successes of 2000 with several members continuing to improve during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. The quality of Bates athletes and their willingness to work hard guarantee an outstanding future and the confident cry, "Watch out for Bates in 2001!".

The Bobcats return six of their top seven runners in 2001. Wallace and Rebecca Hakala '02 are the elected co-captains of the 30 member squad. Julie Dutton '04 is the top returning veteran, followed closely by Beth Pagnotta '04, Leigh Johnson '03, Jessie Gagne-Hall '04, and Alison Locke '04. Kelley Puglisi '03 and Leigh Johnson each had outstanding track seasons and are expected to make a bigger impact in cross country. Elizabeth Jackson '04, Lauren Shoff '04, Meghan Johnston '04 and transfer Emily Barko '03 are also expected to make their mark. At least two first years from the competitive class of 2005 are expected to vie for a top seven position. Expect a close front pack with seven scorers finishing within a minute of each other in each meet.

The success of the team has been consistent since the inception of the program in 1979. In the past five years, the Bates women have made two appearances at the NCAA national championships, in 1995 and 1997. They are traditionally ranked among the top 10 teams in New England. In 1993, the Bobcats were ECAC team champions. Emphasizing both cross-training and strength-training early in the season, the teams are recognized for their continued improvement as the season progresses, peaking at the right time for outstanding performances at championship meets. Respected as a program that develops runners, several athletes with no cross country experience before arriving at Bates have made significant contributions to the program at the regional and national level. Most athletes continue to run after graduation. Community service is also a tradition with the program.

Carolyn Court ( ccourt@bates.edu ) who also serves as women's track and field coach, was an All-American in the 800-meter run at Southern Connecticut State University and was inducted in the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. She earned her master's degree at Penn State and came to Bates in 1979. Since then, Court has become one of the most respected Division III coaches in the country, having sent 44 athletes to the national championships with 12 earning All-America honors. In 1995, she was the New England Division III women's cross country Coach of the Year. She was a member of the NCAA Track and Field Rules Committee and served on the coaching staff for both the 1993 USA World Cup Track and Field Team and the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. She worked as an intern in the USA Track and Field Office and helped with the administration of the NCAA Division I Cross Country and Indoor Track Championships. She is also active in youth track and field programs in the Lewiston/Auburn community.

	©2001 Bates College. All Rights Reserved. Last modified: 6/29/01 by asl