The UW cross country team kicked off its season earlier this week with a bang. The Huskies swept the Sundodger Invitational in West Seattle’s Lincoln Park with both the men’s and the women’s teams earning a win at home. On the men’s side, the 30 - ranked team placed four runners in the top-10 and thoroughly conquered the runner-up Washington State men’s team. The 19 - ranked UW women’s team followed suit, coming in well ahead of second place University of Idaho.

“It was a good starter meet for us,” said junior Anita Campbell, who placed first in the women’s heat. “It shows us and the coaches where everyone is.”

Campbell finished the women’s 6000 meter course in 20 : 20, making her the fastest Husky in history on that course.

Fellow junior Jon Harding won the men’s race and cruised through the 8000 meter course in a time of 23 minutes, 36 seconds to establish a new Sundodger and course record.

“I had never won a college race before,” Harding said. “My first goal was to break 24 minutes and my second goal was to win. I didn’t expect that I’d get both and a course record.”

Harding headed back home this summer to Issaquah, where he was determined to make the most of the time off from school and the good weather. For Harding, this did not mean more time hanging out with friends or relaxing; it meant running 80 miles at least six days each week.

“Last year I didn’t run all summer and I was not prepared at all once the season started,” Harding said. “This summer I ran every day, and it paid off.”

At the 2006 Sundodger Invitational, Harding finished more than a minute slower than what he did this year and was nowhere near the front of the pack.

This year, Harding set out with the goal to win. He started with the leaders from the get-go, but within the 400 meter mark, his shoe was stepped on, causing it to come off. Despite this putting him back 50-70 meters from the leaders, Harding made sure he kept them in sight and was able to pass them around the four – mile mark.

“It actually helped me being a little behind after that because I could see the leaders better,” Harding said. “The crowd really helped me after.”

On a shorter course that same day, Campbell was about to feel the same excitement as her teammate. With no shoe troubles for Campbell, she managed to maintain her lead from the beginning.

“I didn’t want to base my race off anyone else, so I just kind of went for it,” Campbell said.

Last year at this meet, Campbell placed sixth and ran 50 seconds slower. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Campbell also went home this summer to train. While she did not clock in quite as much weekly mileage as Harding, she made sure that she was still feeling good and was consistent with her running.

With that, Campbell returned to UW for fall, ready to start a great season. As one of the top retuning runners, she was a natural leader of the team.

“There are so many people that have so many different roles on the team,” Campbell said. I’m the one that usually goes to the front at workouts and tries to push people to go faster.”

This tactic proved to pay off for some of her teammates at the Sundodger Invitational, as sophomore Katie Follett came in second overall and broke the former UW meet record as well.

“This year Katie has really stepped up,” said Campbell. “She had some really good training in Colorado and is always really determined and gives a good example.”

Freshman Marie Lawrence came in just behind Campbell and Follett, breaking the 21 minute mark as well.

Even after this meet’s win, Harding is still a little reluctant to call himself a leader. He attributes that characteristic more to his teammates senior Carl Moe and Jeremy Mineau.

“This is kind of new to me to be the fastest on the team. It’s weird to think that I am the one that is supposed to be the leader. It came by surprise,” Harding said.

Whether they want it or not, the 2007 Sundodger Invitational brings Anita Campbell and Jon Harding into a new light and shows not only what they are capable of this season, but the rest of the team as well.

Reach reporter Rebecca Rogers at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.