Westfield Captures MASCAC Women's Cross Country Championship
Westfield, Mass. - Westfield State College claimed its sixth straight title and 13th overall crown by taking top team honors at the 2009 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday afternoon at Stanley Park.
The Owls posted a team score of 30 points to best runner-up Bridgewater State College's total of 44 points, while Salem State College was third overall with a score of 94 points. Worcester State College and Fitchburg State College finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with team scores of 97 and 118 points, while the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (171 points) and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (194 points) rounded out the team scoring by placing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Westfield State senior Kerry Arouca (Hanson, Mass.) earned her second straight individual title, as she covered the 5K layout in a time of 19:10.44 to earn 2009 MASCAC Runner of the Year accolades. Bridgewater State sophomore Sarah Lagasse (Rehoboth, Mass.) earned 2009 MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors as the runner-up with a time of 29:53.47, while Owl senior Ally Brown (Andover, Mass.) finished third for the hosts with a time of 19:56.43. Worcester State freshman Erin Donohue (Saugus, Mass.) and Bridgewater State junior Amanda Hauswirth (Methuen, Mass.) rounded out the top five by placing fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 19:59.85 and 20:12.55.
Westifled State junior Julie Messinger (Norton, Mass.) and Bridgewater State junior Jessica Eidinger (Sutton, Mass.) were next in sixth and seventh place, respectively, with times of 20:19.93 and 20:27.59, while Salem State sophomore Jennifer Fuller (Amesbury, Mass.) and freshman Becca Montano (Agawam, Mass.) sandwiched Westfield State sophomore Marissa Benito's (Rockland, Mass.) ninth place individual finish time of 20:42.45 by placing eighth and 10th, respectively, with times of 20:42.19 and 20:42.75 to round out the 2009 MASCAC all-conference squad.
The Rams top finisher was first year runner Valbona Saliu (Worcester, Mass.) who finished the course in a time of 24:57.48. Teammate Michelle Korn (Cortlandt Manor, NY) was just two minutes behind finishing the 5K course in 26:24.79.
Bridgewater State Head Coach Jim Simoneau was honored by his peers as the 2009 MASCAC Coach of the Year, as he guided the Bears to their second straight runner-up finish in the championships.
Final Team Scores
1. Westfield State 30
2. Bridgewater State 44
3. Salem State 94
4. Worcester State 97
5. Fitchburg State 118
6. Mass. Maritime 171
7. MCLA 194
Release courtesy of MASCAC Sports Information Office.