CONNELLY, DYE SELECTED GNAC CROSS COUNTRY ROOKIES OF THE WEEK

Sept. 6, 2011

Two Emmanuel College freshmen cross country runners opened the 2011 season by garnering Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Rookie of the Week honors. Saints freshmen Ameena Dye (Syracuse, N.Y.) and Christopher Connelly (Quincy, Mass.) each led the pack for their respective teams, finishing first for Emmanuel in the 3rd Annual Fens Classic last Saturday.

Dye raced to a new Emmanuel program-record in the women's two-mile course, running a time of 12:40.40 in her collegiate debut. As the Saints' first female runner to cross the finish line, Dye captured 9th place overall in the meet, helping Emmanuel to a 3rd place team finish.

Connelly paced the Emmanuel men, running the 5k in 16:17.80. His time also placed him placed 9th overall and helped the Saints to a 3rd place finish as a team. Connelly's 16:17 pace was the fastest 5k time ever run by an Emmanuel freshman.

Based on their performances in Emmanuel's opening meet, the duo each received GNAC Rookie of the Week honors. Conference weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by the Sports Information Directors from each of the 14 GNAC colleges and universities.