Women's Cross Country Finishes Fifth at MASCAC Championships
Westfield, Mass. - Westfield State University captured its seventh straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country title by posting a nine-point victory over runner-up Bridgewater State University in the 2010 championship race that took place on Saturday afternoon at Stanley Park.
The Owls placed all five of their runners in the top nine to post a team score of 32 points in besting the Bears' total of 41 points, as Bridgewater State had the top three individual finishers (four of the top 10 overall) on the day. The crown was Westfield State's 14th overall since 1985 and 11th championship in the last 13 seasons.
Worcester State University finished in third place with a team score of 58 points, while Salem State University (139 points) and Framingham State University (153 points) were next in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Fitchburg State University (155 points), MCLA (173 points) and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (211 points) rounded out the team scoring in sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively.
Bridgewater State junior Molly Rouillard (Dartmouth, Mass.) took the conference individual title in earning the nod as the 2010 MASCAC Runner and Rookie of the Year, as she covered the 5K layout in a time of 19:05.05, while Bears' junior Sarah Lagasse (19:29.46) and senior Jessica Eidinger (Sutton, Mass.) followed in the runner-up and third place spots, respectively, with times of 19:29.46 and 19:31.76. Westfield State senior Rachel Dionne (Feeding Hills, Mass.), freshman Caitlin Ryan (Hanson, Mass.) and junior Marissa Bonito (Rockland, Mass.) followed in fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively, with times of 19:42.63, 19:47 and 19:59.55, and the Owls placed sophomores Rachael Cardin (Sutton, Mass.) and Lynsay Wray (North Andover, Mass.) in the eighth and ninth spots, respectively, with times of 20:03.51 and 20:05.46 to account for their team total. Worcester State freshman Ali Barrett (Hingham, Mass.) placed seventh with a time of 20:00.64, while Bridgewater State junior Diana DeMont (West Springfield, Mass.) rounded out the 2010 all-conference team with a 10th place time of 20:13.63.
In addition to Rouillard's individual awards, Bridgewater State Head Coach Jim Simoneau was honored by his peers for a second straight season as the 2010 Turfer MASCAC Coach of the Year.
All eight MASCAC institutions will compete next Saturday at the 2010 New England Alliance Championships at Moore State Park in Auburn, Mass. beginning at Noon.
Bridgewater State University captured its fourth Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country title by posting a seven-point victory over runner-up and defending champion Westfield State University in the 2010 league championship race held Saturday morning at Stanley Park.
The Bears placed five runners in the top 13 to post a team score of 45 points and best the Owls' total of 52 points, as Westfield State had three individuals in the top nine and placed all five scorers in the top 17 overall. Fitchburg State University (75 points) finished in third place, while the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (106 points) and Worcester State University (131 points) followed in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Salem State University (140 points) and MCLA (174 points) rounded out the team scoring in sixth and seventh place, respectively.
Salem State junior Alex Gomes (Peabody, Mass.) took the conference individual title with a time of 25:36.02 over the 8K layout, as he bested Bridgewater State sophomore Stephen Wahome (Lowell, Mass.) by just over six seconds (25:42.22) in the runner-up spot. Fitchburg State juniors Matt Spano (Gardner, Mass.) and Chris Kibler (Bath, Maine) finished in third and fourth place, respectively, with times of 25:53.11 and 25:54.23, while the Westfield State tandem of junior Jonathan Joyce (Milford, Mass.) and freshman Tevin Honohan (New Bedford, Mass.) were next in fifth and sixth place with respective times of 27:02.67 and 27:09.45. Bridgewater State sophomore David Phipps (Attleboro, Mass.) finished seventh with a time of 27:09.45, while Massachusetts Maritime senior Patrick Dannaher (Arlington, Va.), Westfield State sophomore Anthony Frissora (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Salem State senior Alex DeRosa (Saugus, Mass.) rounded out the all-conference team (top 10 individuals) in eighth, ninth and 10th place, respectively, with times of 27:10.90, 27:14.49 and 27:19.17.
Salem State's Gomes and Westfield State's Honohan earned their respective nods as MASCAC Runner and Rookie of the Year, while Bridgewater State Head Coach Jim Simoneau was honored by his peers as the 2010 Turfer MASCAC Coach of the Year.
The Bears claimed their first MASCAC crown since 2003 and their fourth in the last 13 years, as Bridgewater State had previously won the league championship in 1998, 2001 and 2003.
All eight MASCAC institutions will compete next Saturday at the 2010 New England Alliance Championships at Moore State Park in Auburn, Mass. beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Release courtesy of MASCAC Sports Information.