Cross Country Competes at GNAC Championship
DORCHESTER, Mass. - The 17th running of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Cross Country Championship took place at the nationally renowned Franklin Park course on Saturday, October 29th. Johnson & Wales University captured both the men's and women's team championships, marking the second consecutive year that the Wildcats have claimed both titles.
Emerson College and Emmanuel College played co-hosts to the 2011 Championship, which was held in the Boston area for the first time. Poor weather in the days preceding the meet caused for a few slight course modifications for the safety of the student-athletes. The fourteen GNAC member institutions made the easy race-day adjustments and the two meets went off without a hitch.
The women's 5k race featured the Wildcats edging out runner-up Emmanuel College to claim their second-straight and fifth overall GNAC Cross Country Championship. JWU finished with a team total of 64 points. The Saints locked up second place with 72 points, while the first-year varsity program at Simmons College surprised the field by racing to a third place team finish with 81 points.
Saint Joseph's College (Me.) freshman Amber Dostie (Standish, Me.) cruised to a 1st place win and claimed both Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Dostie paced the field of 126 runners and finished the 5k race in 19:45. Johnson & Wales junior Laura Furaro (North Warren, N.J.) improved on her 3rd place finish in 2010 to finish 2nd this year in a time of 20:24. Saint Joseph College (Conn.) sophomore Julie Pattyson (Seymour, Conn.) raced to a 3rd place time of 20:53. Simmons freshman Shelly Potter (York, Me.) paced the Sharks with her 4th place finish in 20:54. Emmanuel rookie Ameena Dye (Syracuse, N.Y.) claimed 5th place with a time of 20:57.
Anna Maria's top runner was senior Julieanne Hartley who placed 77th at the championship. Hartley ran the GNAC course in a time of 25:59. Sophomore Nicole Luce finished in 92nd place with a time of 27:18 followed by Rose Murphy (97th/28:18), Rebecca Young (98th/28:19) and Lauren Sale (99th/28:19).
