The last two

We depart for Middlebury today and I am certainly wondering which team will be in the van.  The healthy one we had at the beginning of the season or the "decimated" as Knut put it, one that we have been taking the past couple of weekends.  Certainly every other team struggles to stay health just as we do.  Our best season a couple of years ago was largely the result of most everyone staying healthy I believe.  Currently the SLU health center aka the trauma unit is seeing record numbers of sick students.  So the team is exposed  to this whether they want to be or not, it is unavoidable.  You can wash your hands raw but everywhere you turn is another sick person. 

Well anyway I think the team knows that we are capable of better results and we are determined to finish off the season with higher team scores. 

Kristen is looking good for NCAA qualification but there are several other girls looming that could change things with just one race.  Ben's chances of qualifying I think are better than they look right now as he just needs to race like he is capable of.  The 10K mass start should be very exciting for both the men and the women.   The relay was an event that everyone missed not having on the schedule last year.  I think this is the event where you can see some of the most impressive efforts by racers.  The men have their eye on a podium finish but everything will need to be clicking for that to happen.  I think the women are capable of a 5th place finish even though our better races have been in classic.