Senior year looks a little different this year for women's cross country captains Veronica Kriss and Stephanie Forbes. 

Their task of uniting and leading the team has become more difficult during the pandemic. On top of that responsibility, they have to balance their studies, regular training and practice, and involvement in extracurricular activities.

"I told them at the beginning of the year that this is going to be the toughest year to be a team captain," said head coach Paul Spangler. "They haven't shied away from that challenge and have done an outstanding job of being there for the team and keeping them focused on the main goal, which is to compete for a conference title and a trip to nationals."

As seniors, both Forbes and Kriss know what the team looks like during a normal year, so taking on the responsibility of leading the team this year is uncharted territory. 

"Especially this year and this semester more than ever, I think it means more than just being a leader in cross country," said Forbes. "In past years and past semesters it might be more about leading your team to win a race or to be first on the starting line, but I think this semester more than anything it's about just leading your team overall and being a better role model."

"It's important setting the tone for the team culture especially with incoming freshmen," said Kriss. "This year has been especially difficult with trying to figure how to incorporate those new freshmen into the team, not being able to hang out with them all time, and finding safe ways to interact and get to know everyone on the team."

While the pandemic has affected their ability to conduct more extensive team bonding activities, the captains for both the men's and women's teams organized assigned random groups and activities to let people get to know each other. They then mix the groups up with members from different classes and between the men and women. 

"We've really been trying to stay connected with our freshmen as well as the guys," said Forbes. "We're always this integrated unit and it's always been our goal to be like that."

Not only are the men's and women's cross country teams close, but the entire track & field and cross country program has become closer as well. Forbes and Kriss have been part of that shift, remarking that they and their classmates requested to live on the same floor in Rich Hall as sophomores. Their work in becoming a close-knit group was evident at last year's Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"I feel like that meet was really special because everyone bought in and it showed that the team was on such an upward trajectory and that the culture was great across the entire track team," said Forbes. "We had so much energy going into that meet and it was so much fun being there. Everyone put so much heart into it. Even though we might not have been champions, I'll never forget that experience."

"It's the most we've felt like one big unit across the whole track team, so that was definitely special," Kriss added.

"To be successful in track, you need everyone on same page, with all the athletes supporting each other," Spangler said. "Veronica and Steph have done a great job coordinating with the track captains, and it's been a true team atmosphere. We saw that at the indoor championships last year. The team was there to support each other. That's ultimately gonna pay off down the road. That starts with the leadership of the captains, whether they're on the cross country side or the track side."

Not only has their leadership resulted in athletic success, but the duo has been integral in helping the cross country program continue its history of academic excellence. Both Forbes and Kriss have been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll every semester, which is not surprising given the importance they placed on academics when choosing BU.

Prior to college, Kriss was determined to go to school in California, but after visiting multiple schools out west, she came to visit BU. After meeting with a member of the team who was pursuing a degree in physical therapy, she was certain she had found her place on Commonwealth Avenue.

"I just fell in love with Boston, applied to the physical therapy program and got in," said Kriss. "It all fell into place and it checked all my boxes."

As for Forbes, she knew she needed a city environment and was very focused on what a school could offer in terms of academics, but she had not heard of BU until her junior year of high school when she was searching for schools in a city. 

"I just knew I wanted to go to a school in the city essentially, and I really liked Questrom and the academic side of BU," said Forbes. "This was all purely based on academics." 

Another value that's especially important to the team, and particularly Kriss, is that of inclusion. Kriss is the president of the BU chapter of Athlete Ally, which fosters an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ student-athletes and allies.

"My involvement in Athlete Ally goes back to another great leader on our team, Johnny Kemps, who was the founding president of BU's chapter," Kriss said. "Athlete Ally has really created a nice little community. I've gotten to know people on other teams through it and it's been really good. One of our pillars is education, and we do our best to have panels and have speakers come in and give talks about their experiences as LGBTQIA+ athletes. It's very important to me and I'm very proud to be a part of it."

It is never easy to step up and become a role model, much less during a pandemic. Fortunately for their coaches and teammates, Forbes and Kriss are living up to expectations and raising the bar for captains to come.

"They're hard-working and team-oriented, and everyone looks up to them," said Spangler. "They exemplify what it means to be a BU student-athlete."