Only a year ago, current freshman Emily Buzzell was struggling through an injury-plagued year of high school cross-country.
Look how far she's come.
Just two meets into the season, Buzzell has already solidified herself as the No. 2 runner on the Penn women's cross-country team, despite dealing with the difficult transition from high school to college.
"For freshmen, it's a huge adjustment just being on the team, doing everything differently than in high school," coach Gwen Harris said. "Emily and [fellow freshman] Jennifer Blank have really stepped up for us."
Buzzell is especially looking forward to this weekend's Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh, as she is eager to face off with not only some of the best runners in the Ivy League but in the country as well.
"This is a big meet," Buzzell said. "I definitely think we'll be able to surprise some people."
Fresh off a first-place finish at the Delaware Invitational, the Red and Blue will face their toughest test of the fall season this weekend.
The meet will feature the largest field the Quakers have faced all year, including a host of nationally ranked teams. Columbia, Georgetown and Tennessee -- all ranked in the top 25 -- are expected to compete in Bethlehem, Pa., tomorrow.
The meet also marks the first time the Quakers will see a number of Ivy league foes, including Columbia and Cornell.
"This weekend will be a big test for us," Harris said. "It will allow us to know where we are and what we need to do."
The Quakers are off to a fast start this year. In addition to capturing the Delaware Invitational last Saturday, the team placed second at the Fordham Invitational in its first meet of the season.
Much of the team's early success is due to the Red and Blue's ability to stick together as a pack. This strategy has allowed the runners to finish closer together, thus keeping the overall time of the team as low as possible.
Running as a pack will be especially important this weekend in a field that is expected to have over 200 runners attacking the course.
"Sticking together this weekend will be essential," senior Emily Logan said. "Not only in this meet, but in all our meets to come, so this will provide good practice at the least."
