12/03/07 

For Phillips Academy girls cross country coach Nancy Lang, the Nike Northeast Regional Nov. 24 was the perfect way to end the Big Blue's fine undefeated season.

Even though the race took place on the same day as the Foot Locker Northeast Regional for individuals at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, there was no question that her team would compete in the Nike team race in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

"Nike made sense for my team because we have the strength and depth as a team without a standout runner," said Lang, whose club was the unbeaten New England prep champion the last two years. "Jen (Downing) did well Saturday (third at the Nike race), but I don't think she had a shot at the top 10 in the Foot Locker competition.

"If I had a team like I did years ago with (Bradford's) Melissa Donais (who was first at the Foot Locker regional in 1999), it was different because the team couldn't have done much in such a competitive field, even with a strong front runner."