By Dwight Bachman / Public Relations Officer

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- On Aug. 27, twenty-five Eastern cross country athletes and coaches enjoyed a boundless day of fun and energy, participating as volunteers in the 2022 RiMaConn Relay. An alumni team, the "Sole Sisters," had a spectacular day, finishing first out of the 18 all-female teams that competed and 16^th out of 83 total men's and women's teams.

The day prior to the race, the Eastern cross country team returned to campus for its annual run up Mount Greylock in Lee, MA. "It is the highest mountain in Massachusetts," said cross country coach Kathy Manizza. "The athletes all ran eight miles uphill and three miles back down to the van. It's an adventure that they 'love to hate.'  And then on Saturday, as their legs recovered from the run, we volunteered at the relay."

The RiMaConn Relay is described as an "epic relay adventure, that travels through 95 miles of southern New England on a network of scenic multi-use trails of the East Coast Greenway, a totally unique race…running through three states and 20 towns, from Rhode Island through Massachusetts to Connecticut by the most eco-friendly transportation method ever – running."

The relay started early in the morning at Blackstone State Park in Lincoln, RI and ended in the evening at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford. The day of running was topped off with an evening of comradery and accomplishment with a post-race party.

Eastern's "Sole Sisters," in their running order of the 95-mile relay, included Kelly Labanara '15 of Chaplin; Rachel Berkowsky '18 of Stoughton, MA; Christina Gosselin '19 of Old Saybrook; Kassandrah Banks '18 of Wethersfield; Sarah Cruz '21 of Westbrook and from the University of Rhode Island; and Samara Johnson '20 of Lebanon.

"This year, we finished first out the 18 all-female teams that competed and 16^th out of 83 total teams that competed (male and female teams)," said Berkowsky, who also serves as a professional advisor in the Advising Center and an instructor of the Foundations of Health and Wellness in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. "The team finished the relay with a time of 12 hours, 59 minutes, and 50 seconds,"

Last year, six Eastern alumni comprised the team, which won the women's division, finishing first out of the 19 all-female teams that competed (and 10^th out of 96 teams overall, male and female teams). "We had such an amazing experience last year that we knew we wanted to run the race again," said Berkowsky.
Many athletes often end their careers in a sport, but the passion and dedication to running of Eastern alumni runners has tremendously motivated current cross country and track athletes.

"My role as a captain for this event was just to help out at one of the exchange stations and make sure everything was going smoothly," said Tyler Wright '22, a graduate student majoring in accounting. "I did not run the relay but would be interested in doing so in the future. I really enjoy running because of the freedom it gives you and the friends you make. It is a great way stay in shape and not have to worry about anything else for an hour."

Elisabeth Rodil '24, a health science major from Milford, NH, also served as team captain. During the relay, she helped direct traffic and handed out water and snacks. "My role during this cross-country season is to keep the whole team positive and working hard. It is a very big goal of ours to win the (Little East Conference championship) this year, and the main part of achieving this is working hard as a team. I love making practices and meets fun for everyone and keeping everyone's energy up." 
 
"It was very interesting, watching how competitive some teams are and how some teams run it for fun," said Rodil. "For me, running is a big stress reliever. I enjoy going to practice after a long day of classes and just going on a long run with my team and forgetting about everything else.  I did not get to run in this relay, but I did get to watch how fun and exciting it was for the runners around me." 
 
Team captain Jillian McGahan '23 is a communication major from Dedham, MA. She said volunteers were separated into three groups at different check points, to direct traffic and runners, check off runners' numbers and write their times as they passed by, to make sure they all went through, no one was lost or to give out food, snacks and water at the station table.

As a volunteer and spectator, the race was both fun and competitive. "Some runners were flying by for time, really into the race. Others were just trying their best, having fun with their teammates." McGahan said she enjoys running. "It's fun to accomplish something new, break a new personal record and try out longer miles. After I graduate, I want to run in the RiMaConn Relay. It looks like a blast, and it's always a fun time running with others—friends and family. It was nice watching all the runners giving it their all and having a great time with their teammates."

Though she graduated four years ago as a track & field and soccer athlete, Berkowsky still loves the invigoration running supplies her mind and soul. "My body needed a break from being a four- year, two-sport athlete," she told a reporter last year. "But afterward, it finally hit me that this was the first time in my life that I wasn't on a team and didn't have anything to really train for. So, a year after I graduated, I trained for my first half-marathon. And I've done it every year since. It's a good way for me to still train, and to have something to compete for."

Johnson, who along with Berkowsky will run in the upcoming Hartford Marathon on Oct. 8, agrees: "I find running helps me process the day, and how I'm doing internally in the moment. The positive and negative experiences, joyful emotions, excitement, nerves and so forth. It's all being processed and regulated as I run. I feel so good after a run."

She continued: "Running is a personal journey where you learn about yourself. Your inner strength, and your mental and physical limits. Running is more than an activity; it's something you can use in your everyday life. You learn to push forward, to get through the tough times, and come to the realization that you can do it. This can be applied to any aspect of life."