For Immediate Release
November 1, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
BOSTON, Mass.– The Wellesley College cross country team took fifth place at the 2008 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships Saturday morning at Franklin Park. For the second consecutive year, MIT swept the men's and women's races to capture the both titles.
For Wellesley, Jessica Weng (Paramus, NJ) was the Blue's top finisher, narrowly missing an All-Conference honor. The senior took 16th in a time of 19:46.30, recording a 5K personal best. Next across the line for Wellesley, seniors Hannah Sholder (Pittsburgh, PA) and Amy Damon (Livermore, ME) each posted their best times on the Franklin Park course. Sholder placed 21st overall in 19:59.23 while Damon finished 23rd in 20:01.43.
Cailey Stevens (Kodiak, AK) also recorded a 5K personal best, taking 25th in 20:07.06. Rounding out the scoring for the Blue, Karyn Clements (Cobleskill, NY) came through with her best race of the season to finishing 45th overall in a time of 20:57.63.
In team scoring, MIT placed five runners in the top eight for a total of 27 points, giving them a 50-point victory over second place Wheaton. Jacqui Wentz finished the five-kilometer course in 18:28.86 to capture Runner of the Year honors. Janice O'Brien was the first freshman to finish the race (8th overall), crossing the finish line at 19:04.18, to capture the Rookie of the Year award.
Wellesley finshed with 105 points, behind MIT (27), Wheaton (77), Springfield (87) and Smith (103).
The Blue will next compete at the Division-III Regionals at Williams College on November 15th.
Women's Results
1. MIT – 27 points
2. Wheaton – 77 points
3. . Springfield – 87 points
4. Smith – 103 points
5. Wellesley – 105 points
6. WPI – 175 points
7. Coast Guard – 180 points
8. Mount Holyoke – 197 points
9. Babson – 275 points
10. Clark – 280 points
All-Conference Team
1. Jacqui Wentz, MIT, 18:28.86
2. Lauren Reddy, Wheaton, 18:41.08
3. Amanda DiPaolo, Springfield, 18:51.53
4. Nora Youngs, Smith, 18:54.32
5. Andrea Bradshaw, MIT, 18:59.38
6. Katherine Eve, MIT, 18:59.63
7. Maria Monks, MIT, 19:02.33
8. Janice O'Brien, MIT, 19:04.18
9. Amanda Rawson, Wheaton, 19:10.42
10. Anna Holt-Gosselin, MIT, 19:14.10
11. Jennifer Doyle, MIT, 19:14.71
12. Lilian Calderwood, Wheaton, 19:16.88
13. Lacey Cartier, Springfield, 19:20.66
14. Elizabeth Finn, MIT, 19:21.57
Runner of the Year
Jacqui Wentz, MIT
Rookie of the Year
Katherine Eve, MIT