The women’s cross country team left the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday literally tasting the sweetness of victory. The tradition of giving the top-20 runners a pie of their choice at the conference championship is something the Bombers have come to look forward to in their six-year domination of the conference.

“I got Dutch apple pie,” senior co-captain Lindsey Nadolski said. “I was a little nervous [that I wouldn’t get my top choice], but it was OK because I got my pie.”

This victory for the Blue and Gold extends a streak that began in 2003 when the Empire 8 added women’s cross country to its list of accepted sports.

Nadolski said the runners recognize the Bombers have historically dominated the conference, but in order to stay on top, the team knows it is never a guarantee they will win.

“We’ve definitely always been a solid force in the Empire 8,” Nadolski said. “We take that into account, but I feel we look at it more generally.”

Head Coach Bill Ware said he is pleased with his team’s victory while keeping his sights set on other non-conference teams the South Hill squad will face at the state tournament.  

“The Empire 8 isn’t the strongest league,” he said. “We’re trying to get closer to St. Lawrence [University].”

Nadolski’s time of 17:44 earned her third overall and first in the conference, winning the title of Empire 8 Runner of the Meet for the second consecutive year. A Bomber has won the title in all six years of competition.

In addition, freshman Heidi Baumbach finished fourth in the conference and 22nd overall, winning the Empire 8 Rookie of the Meet and becoming the fifth Bomber in six years to claim this title.

Ware said the team sets three goals every year. After completing the first, winning the Empire 8, they have to shift their focus to the future.

“We want to do well at states and hopefully qualify for nationals,” Ware said.

With the state tournament coming up this weekend, the team used this week off to rest up, but they are no less determined.

“A lot of people are just trying to be careful with their injuries or potential injuries,” Nadolski said. “It’s so important to have depth and everyone feeling well all at the same time.”

With the pressure of the state tournament approaching, Ware makes sure every runner is prepared both mentally and physically before each playoff race.

“He really tries to keep everyone calm,” Nadolski said. “He’s very positive, [and] it’s great to have a coach like that.”

But along with what Ware brings to the team, it’s the teammates’ understanding of each other that helps motivate everyone to work harder.

“We don’t put pressure on each other, we just know that our team is counting on us and that we need to do our job,” junior Melanie McCormick said. “We know what works, and we keep doing it.”

Returning to competition this Saturday at the New York State Track Conference Championship in Clinton, N.Y., the No. 25 nationally ranked Blue and Gold will be up against several other top-tier teams in New York. Even with three years of experience, Nadolski said she gets butterflies before each race.  

“I’m a senior, and I still get nervous at this point of the season,” Nadolski said. “The competition has increased exponentially.”

Having advanced to nationals the last eight years, the team is determined to continue this trend. Nadolski said she will be competing at her highest level to get to nationals because it could be her final collegiate competition and the team’s final meet of the season.

“We’re going to have to race regionals like it is our last race,” Nadolski said.

Considering the skill the Bombers have shown already, it is likely they will taste sweet victory again. This time, though, it will be at regionals.