In the season’s final meet, however, both teams approached redemption. The men took 11th out of 37 teams and the women finished eighth at the NCAA Regional meet.
For the men, Bienvenu finished his cross country career with one of his best races, crossing the line 26th in a field of 229 runners, while the Crimson’s next-best runners, sophomores Kevin Lyons and Sean Barrett, came through in 64th and 65th, respectively.
The women were paced by Scherf, who took seventh, and Maludzinski, who was 32nd.
“I’m so happy to have her on the team,” Maludzinski said of Scherf.
“She has a great attitude, and is fearless when it comes to taking out a race and pouring 110 percent onto the course,” Maludzinski added.
Next year, the women’s team will return both its top stars in pursuit of an Ivy championship.
—Staff writer Gabriel M. Velez can be reached at gmvelez@fas.harvard.edu.