Who is PPXC?

A classic question, with no given answer. And yet, day in and day out, it is not uncommon to see specimens of the female species running, sprinting, or aqua jogging across the 5Cs. With the help of protein bars, a few glasses of chocolate milk, lots of endurance training, and the occasional pre-race makeout, The Student Life was able to catch up with the ladies long enough to pick up a few quotations before falling behind, laboring, and regurgitating with hands on knees.

It turns out that there is plenty more to the women of PPXC fame than meets the eye. Sure, the fact that they’re comfortable running around wearing a minimal amount of clothing suggests self-confidence and an unmatched dedication to their sport. However, these ladies, though determined about running, aren’t entirely consumed by it, either. In fact, they are so modest about their running that it proved a serious task merely to get any of them to comment on the team, their teammates, or the season thus far.

Regardless, we did manage to get Naomi Wagner PO ’13 to suggest that the team’s balance comes from the nature of intercollegiate running. The ladies of PPXC run together, eat meals together, and even rage together—no single aspect of the college experience dominates their busy lives.

Returning to campus after an evening spent running and cooking a microwave potluck dinner with the girls—all while while bedecked in 50s attire—Wagner said, “We have a pretty cohesive group of girls. It helps that the freshmen are all so eager about the team. Also, you definitely form special bonds with people when you all have to wake up at ungodly times Saturday morning for meets.”

According to Pomona freshman Dorothy Silverman (affectionately called Dot), “The team is strong. We’re strong physically, but we’re also strongly unified. I’ve only been here a month, and already I feel like part of the XC family.”

It’s admirable how cohesive this group of girls appears to be. But TSL wanted to find out how this translated to success on the course. And once more, Wagner threw in her two cents.

“The team is certainly doing well this year,” she said. “Why? Well, because we’re awesome. But really, though, I think a major factor is the fact that the team behaves as a team with such frequency that it’s now second nature. Not only do we spend our weekends together racing and relaxing, we’ve now translated this to running as a pack. Working together not only during practice, but pulling each other along during meets is crucial to helping both individuals and the team improve.”

“But regardless of rankings and standings,” she added, “it’s merely nice to see the season start with fewer injuries, and to be witness to the freshmen adjusting well, and putting down some nice times these past two weekends.”

Once again, so humble, so fresh. Look up the recent results, where Wagner has been a prominent member of the top five scoring members on the women’s team. At their most recent competition at UC-Riverside Sept. 18, Wagner, Silverman, Annie Lydens PO ’13, Claire Brickson PO ’14, and Roxy Cook PZ ’13, led P-P to a strong 17th-place finish out of 24 teams from D1, D2, and D3 schools. The ladies defeated Cal Poly Pomona, that school everybody thinks we go to if they’ve never heard of a Sagehen.

And with such a fantastic balance between speed and fun, there’s only room for improvement.