Rowan women’s cross country finished the regular season strong on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the ninth annual Border Battle at DREAM Park in Logan Township, New Jersey. Overall, the team finished second in the women’s championship race and third in the women’s open race. 

Many runners set new personal records and placed toward the top of the race. Four of Rowan’s top-five scoring runners finished in the top 25 of the entire meet, as Gabriella Pagano placed 14th, Mia Guerra placed 15th, Anna Sasse placed 20th, Ally Wernik placed 25th, and Emily Zanni placed 50th. Although Pagano was the highest-placing Prof, she was more impressed with the team’s performance than her own.

“The thing I am proud of most was that me, Ally, and Mia were never alone and could always see each other,” Pagano said. “Throughout the race, we were never alone and the way we worked as a unit really came together. I’m really proud of that.”

In this year’s Border Battle, Rowan had double the amount of runners get shirts compared to last season and five runners set a new PR. 

“We have come a long way in a short season,” Pagano said. “Last year I think one or two of us got a shirt, but this year four of us did. It was also new PRs for all four of us who got shirts and Emily Zanni.”

Success at the Border Battle isn’t new for the Profs. Last year, they finished third overall in the women’s 6k championship race. In that race, Emily Zanni finished first with a time of 24:18.2. The Profs are the type of team that gets hot towards the end of the year, and they feel like they’re at their best when the playoffs are around the corner.

“Preparing for this race knowing that it’s our home course really helps,” Pagano said. “The Border Battle is usually right before the NJAC [Championships] so our morale and energy is really high. We are riding the season high of our conference meet that’s coming up.”

Nerves aren’t something that Rowan struggles with, as the Profs always feel prepared mainly because of what the coaches preach to the team during practice.

“I felt like they have been able to handle the moment and not let their nerves get to them,” Head Coach Shedrick Elliott III said. “That’s one of the things we emphasize. Not making the moment bigger than what it needs to be and continuing to execute what they have done in practice all year. I’m extremely proud of their performance.”

Heading into the NJACs, the Profs have to maintain the same mentality and composure they have displayed all year. All the work has been put in, now it’s time to perform.

“We will continue to emphasize not letting championship moments overwhelm them,” Elliot III said. “Letting them understand that they are ready for these opportunities and not adding any necessary stress throughout the remainder of the season is all we have to do.”

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