CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS KICK OF 2014 WITH 6TH ANNUAL FENS CLASSIC

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams kicked off the 2014 season by hosting the "Fens Classic," which featured the largest field in the six-year history of the meet, including 99 women and 98 men.  The women ran a 2-mile course and the men ran a 3-mile trek through Boston's historic Backbay Fens area, finishing with a lap of the track circling Roberto Clemente Field. 

The Wheaton College Lyons took first place in the women's race for the second consecutive season, while the Brandeis University Judges repeated again, cruising to the top team spot in the men's race.

Wheaton combined for a team low score of 53 points to lead the eight teams competing in the women's two-mile distance.  The Lyons were followed by Roger Williams University (68), UMass Dartmouth (71), Emmanuel College (80), Husson University (106), Lesley University (152), Wheelock College (215) and Regis College (238).

Brandeis University tallied just 23 team points to earn the win over the seven other men's teams in the three-mile event.  The Judges were trailed by Roger Williams University (45), UMass Dartmouth (96), Wentworth Institute of Technology (98), Wheaton College (121), Emmanuel College (173), Husson University (209) and Wheelock College (253).

Husson University junior Chrissy Larrabee (Brooks, Maine) earned the individual win in the women's race. Her speedy time of 11:51 was just five seconds off the Fens Classic course record of 11:46 set back in 2012.  Wheaton College placed three runners in the top ten. After winning the race last year, Wheaton's Jordan Silva (North Kingstown, R.I.) cut 36 seconds off her time to nab second place in 11:53. Sonrisa O'Toole (Great Barrington, Mass.) placed sixth in 12:27 and Georgia Crane (Rye, N.Y.) finished eighth in 12:33 to pace the Lyons.

UMass Dartmouth senior Katie Sheehan (Scituate, Mass.) tore into third place with her time of 12-flat and classmate Jessica Connor (Worcester, Mass.) earned fifth place with her time of 12:09 to lead the Corsairs. 

Rounding out the top-ten for the women were Husson's Alecia Palmer (Presque Isle, Maine) in fourth place with a time of 12:05, Lesley's rookie Alex Dimauro (Woburn, Mass.) in seventh with her 12:29 finish, Roger Williams' rookie Makayla D'Urso (Londonderry, N.H.) in ninth with a time of 12:35 and Emmanuel senior Martina Benassi (North Haven, Conn.) in tenth with a time of 12:41.

Following Benassi for the Saints were Chloe Pangonis (Keene, N.H.) and Chloe Egan (Burlington, Vt.), finishing in 14th and 15th places, with times of 12:47 and 12:48, respectively. Junior captain Julie Roberts (Williamsburg, Mass.) grabbed the 17th spot with her 12:51 finish and sophomore Olivia Wakefield (Easton, Mass.) cut 37 seconds off last year's time to score fifth for the Saints with her 24th place finish in 13:12.

On the men's side, Roger Williams freshman Tim McGowan (Northport, N.Y.) snagged the individual win, undercutting Brandeis senior Jarrett Harrigan (Ipswich, Mass.) by just one second. McGowan toured the three-mile course in 15:20, while Harrigan finished in 15:21 for his second-consecutive 2nd place finish in the Fens Classic.  Harrigan was among six Brandeis runners finishing in the top-ten.  He was quickly followed by sophomore Quinton Hoey (Watertown, Conn.) in third place with a time of 15:25.  Roger Williams' John McGowan (Northport, N.Y.) finished fourth in 15:27, while Brandeis freshman Ryan Stender (Amherst, Mass.) earned fifth place in 15:35.

Rounding out the men's top-ten were Brandeis' Mitchell Hutton (Willa Park, Calif.) in sixth with a time of 15:42, Lesley University's Kyle Casiglio (Shelton, Conn.) in seventh place in 15:45, Brandeis' Grady Ward (Essex Junction, Vt.) and Liam Garvey (West Springfield, Mass.) in eighth and ninth with times of 15:46 and 15:49, respectively.  Wentworth rookie Daniel McSolla (Bridgewater, Mass.) took tenth place, running his three-mile race in 15:50.

Emmanuel's top runner was junior Sean Colford (Epping, N.H.), who finished 26th overall with his time of 16:35.  Also leading the Saints were Christopher Connelly (Quincy, Mass.) in 40th with a time of 17:05, Richard Thompson (Norwood, Mass.) in 17:13, Adam Julien (New Orleans, La.) in 17:31 and Max Bukowiec (York, Maine) in 17:43.

The Emmanuel College Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams will be back in action next Saturday, September 6th, when they travel to Bristol, R.I. to compete in the Roger Williams University Invitational at Colt State Park. The women's meet is set to begin at 11:00 AM and the men's meet will follow at noon.