Cross Country Has Strongest Showing of Season
October 10, 2011
WESTFIELD, Mass. – On an outstanding Saturday to race, the Endicott men’s and women’s cross country had some of their best showings of the season at the James Earley Invitational, hosted by Westfield State University.
The women’s team took 16th place overall out of the 38 team field, their best team place of the 2011 campaign. The Gulls were led by Kim Shepherd (Essex, Conn.), who ran a 20:57, Jillian Mendes (Waterbury Center, Vt.) (21:09) and Deanna Slobin (Old Saybrook, Conn.) (22:18), who all ran personal bests. Freshman Jocelyn Kane (East Longmeadow, Mass.) had a breakout performance and came in as the team’s \#5 runner.
The mens race had 31 teams, and though the Gulls did not place as a squad, senior Greg Payne (N. Attleboro, Mass.)(26:57) had his strongest race this season, placing 15th in a field of 306 runners. Payne also had the distinction of being the first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) runner to cross the finish line. Despite injuries plaguing the young team, freshmen Alex Walecka (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Kevin Duffy (Reading, Mass.) ran well for the Gulls. Walecka finished the course in 31:35, while Duffy came in at 36:33. Several other Gulls were sidelined due to injuries and hope to be at full strength when Endicott returns to action.
They will be back in action next Saturday afternoon when they travel to Springfield, Mass. for an Invitational hosted by Western New England University.
The women’s team took 16th place overall out of the 38 team field, their best team place of the 2011 campaign. The Gulls were led by Kim Shepherd (Essex, Conn.), who ran a 20:57, Jillian Mendes (Waterbury Center, Vt.) (21:09) and Deanna Slobin (Old Saybrook, Conn.) (22:18), who all ran personal bests. Freshman Jocelyn Kane (East Longmeadow, Mass.) had a breakout performance and came in as the team’s \#5 runner.
The mens race had 31 teams, and though the Gulls did not place as a squad, senior Greg Payne (N. Attleboro, Mass.)(26:57) had his strongest race this season, placing 15th in a field of 306 runners. Payne also had the distinction of being the first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) runner to cross the finish line. Despite injuries plaguing the young team, freshmen Alex Walecka (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Kevin Duffy (Reading, Mass.) ran well for the Gulls. Walecka finished the course in 31:35, while Duffy came in at 36:33. Several other Gulls were sidelined due to injuries and hope to be at full strength when Endicott returns to action.
They will be back in action next Saturday afternoon when they travel to Springfield, Mass. for an Invitational hosted by Western New England University.