DCXC: Building a Dynasty

Alex Forte ’03 looks back at Dickinson’s cross country success

by Alex Forte ’03

December 30, 2008

Alex Forte ’03, fifth from left, beside Coach Don Nichter, was on hand in 2007 when women’s cross country was honored at the Sports Hall of Fame.

On the weekend of Nov. 22, I had the opportunity to travel to Hanover College in Indiana for the annual NCAA Division III National Cross-Country Championship competition. I was there to support the Red Devil men's and women's teams at yet another national event. The weekend ended on a bittersweet note for Dickinson with women's team not finishing as well as in the last five years, but the men scoring their highest-ever national finish as a team (14th place overall).

What is so fascinating about attending these events as an alumna is that I remember when the Dickinson cross country (XC) teams were not even top-ranked national contenders (now, it is practically expected that both teams with qualify for the national championships). For example, my first on the squad in 1999, we managed to barely qualify for the national championships and finished somewhere among the last few spots. In my sophomore year, neither team made it to nationals. It was not until my last two years at Dickinson that the women's team started to step up its game as a national-caliber school. We finished top 10 during both of those years (2001 and 2002). I was not, however, able to witness the men's team qualifying for a national trip during my entire time at Dickinson.

Skipping ahead to postgraduation and the last five years: In 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the female Devils have represented Dickinson at the national competition every year. This year, they were present yet again, for the seventh consecutive time (and eighth total over the last 10 years). As for the men, it marked the second in, hopefully, a national championship qualifying streak. Moreover, this year was the second time in Dickinson history that both the men's and women's XC teams have traveled to the national championships together. This, in itself, is a spectacular accomplishment.

More so than qualifying for the national championships this year, the DCXC men made history in a different way a few weeks earlier in the season. At the Centennial Conference (CC) championships at Gettysburg College on Nov. 1, the Red Devil men showed one of the most powerful displays of heart and teamwork that many Dickinson fans (myself included) have ever seen in a cross-country race.

Cruising to a solid victory with 23 points overall, the DCXC men took an early hold on the race (led by Greg Leak '10 with a time of 25:37), upsetting former CC and Mideast Regional cross-country powerhouse, Haverford College. For 15 years, the "Fords" have dominated both the conference and region in cross country and track and field. For as long as I can remember, people have talked about the talent and strength of the Ford runners. Although I have great respect for both their coach and team, I--and other Dickinson and conference team fans--was elated to see them overtaken by the Dickinson men on that unusually warm November day.

Not only did the male Devils take the conference championship, they won by 21 points. Talk about an upset! Two weeks later, they went on to finish third at the Mideast Regional Championships (another historically high finish for the team), beating Haverford yet again and establishing themselves as a force throughout not only the conference and region but the nation as well.

For 15 years, Coach Don Nichter and the men's team have had to settle with being no better ranking second to the Fords at conference and regional championships. This year, however, that was not the case. Running the race of their lives, the Red Devil men proved to skeptics that it could be done and that Dickinson had the team to do it. Following in the footsteps of the women, the DCXC men are on their way to a tradition of success. Some say that there is a spectacular future ahead for the Dickinson cross-country teams. It seems that DCXC is building a dynasty.

Alex Forte '01, a winner of the McAndrews Award for her excellence in cross country and track, participated in the USA Triathlon National Age-Group Championships in Portland, Ore., in September. She placed 348th overall (out of almost 900 men and women) and 14th in her age group. Alex teaches English and writing at Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, Va., coaches cross country at a local high school and is a fitness instructor at Gold's Gym.