The Deerfield girls’ cross country team traveled to Connecticut on Saturday to match themselves against a very strong Loomis Chaffee team, and their always competitive arch rival, Choate Rosemary Hall. The day was as close to perfect as one could hope, with clear blue skies, sunshine, and 70 degree temperatures. Being their home course, the Choate varsity ran with enthusiasm, bolting to an early, commanding lead, but by the midway point the Deerfield harriers had slipped into low enough scoring positions to carry off the dual victories. At the end of the day Deerfield defeated Loomis 25-31, and bested Choate by a score of 23 to 38. Led by a victorious Victoria Patterson, the girls managed to place four runners in the top ten, including Patterson 1st, Erin Hudson 6th, Jane Mallach 7th, Nora Markey 8th, Roopa Venkatrama 11th, Margo Downes 14th, Erin Howe 15th, Sofi Sintes 17th, Ely Burke 20th, Anna Fu 26th, Penelope Hough 29th, Liang 30th, Gemma Bishop 35th, Nafi Sall 36th, and Nikki Pelletier in 37th. Deerfield heads to New Hampshire next Saturday to take on the heavily favored Phillips Exeter squad.