Junior Chelsea Socha is a cross country runner--not a hurdler--but she has cleared some hurdles to post the best season by any runner in Keuka history.

Socha, a junior from Dundee, set new College marks in the 4K, 5K, and 6K this fall. She won the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) meet, was named NEAC Runner of the Year, and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region meet Nov. 14 at Letchworth State Park.

Socha won the Hobart and Nazareth invitationals despite incidents during each race that cost her time but were not of her doing. In Geneva, she was directed the wrong way but recovered to pass two runners and win by eight seconds. Four weeks later in Rochester, it was a case of misinformation.

"There were two loops, and I was coming out of the second loop but the official told me to run it again," recalled Socha.

She was able to convince the official that she was completing--not starting--the second loop and "after a few seconds" she continued the race and came home first.

Socha is hoping that there won't be any directional issues--or cold weather--at the NCAA qualifier this Saturday at Letchworth State Park.

"I hate running in cold weather," she said. "I always ask my coach if I can run on the treadmill when it's cold or raining."

Coach Katie Marcella has no doubt that Socha will turn in a strong showing, rain or shine, humid or frigid.

"She embraces every task given to her," said the first-year coach. "She leads by example and doesn't let success go to her head."

The last time Socha competed on the Letchworth State Park course, she finished 16th at the highly competitive SUNY Geneseo Invitational, setting a new Keuka 6K record (23:31) in the process. The previous standard of 24:07 was set by Katarina DeWitt in 2003.

Although Socha has run two half-marathons and has run 5Ks for five years, including the Pirate Toy Fund 5K in Rochester (a fund-raiser that provides toys for needy children at the holidays), she didn't join the cross country team until this fall. One of her friends contacted another student, who contacted men's cross country runner Kraig Connor, who urged her to join the team.

An accounting major who maintain a near 4.0 GPA, Socha plans to pursue a master's degree after taking the CPA exam. She conducted a Field Period with the Yates County Humane Society, traveled to Australia to study at the University of Wollongong, and is planning a Field Period to Yosemite National Park.

Socha came out of nowhere to become the premier women's cross country runner in the NEAC and among the best in the region. Next year, she won't be able to sneak up on anyone--the competition will keep close tabs on her--but with a year of college competition under her belt, she should be up to the challenge. And that should make her senior season worth following.

As evidenced by the changes to Keuka's record book, watching Socha run is like watching history in the making; you never know when she will break another record.

-- Anthony Pitti