Martin leads the way in 5K season opener

BRISTOL, R.I. – Salve Regina senior Billy Martin (West Islip, N.Y.) set the pace as the Seahawks claimed a seventh-place finish in the Roger Williams Invitational at Colt State Park on Saturday. Martin placed 15th in the field of 99 runners to lead the scoring effort.

After an aggressive start that left three Seahawks in the top 20 and six inside the top 30 after the opening mile, Martin and junior Andrew Sardelli (Hope Valley, R.I.) settled in to their usual leading roles for Salve Regina. Martin crossed the finish line at 17:34.40, while Sardelli finished at 17:55.16. Martin was nearly a minute faster than his performance in the same meet a year ago.

Junior Scott Brewer (Wilbraham, Mass.), sophomore Dan Donnelly (Portsmouth, R.I.) and freshman Riley Rancourt (Bristol, R.I.) rounded out the scoring for Salve Regina, finishing at 18:12.14, 18:23.72 and 18:27.91. Junior David Napierkowski (Cheshire, Conn.) and freshman Brett Jutras (East Bridgewater, Mass.) ran at No. 6 and No. 7, crossing the finish line at 18:29.37 and 18:41.49.

"This was a start, but it wasn't a complete picture of what our team can do this fall," said head coach Rob McGuinness. "It was reassuring to see Billy and Andrew in their usual spots and encouraging to see our freshmen assuming contributing roles. But the times don't tell the full story. This is a team that is poised to get better."

Other Salve Regina finishers included:
Senior Kevin Onofreo (Middlefield, Conn.) – 18:52.79
Senior Jay Brennan (North Haven, Conn.) – 18:58.06
Freshman Brendan Kelly (Lynbrook, N.Y.) – 18:58.93
Junior Neil Sheehan (Methuen, Mass.) – 20:35.34
Junior John Lutz (Ringwood, N.J.) – 20:52.52
Freshman Chandler Da Cruz (Middletown, R.I.) – 21:11.33
Junior Jack Farrell (Cumberland, R.I.) – 25:51.33

Colby-Sawyer College won the team championship with a score of 51. The Chargers placed three inside the top 10 and all five scorers inside the top 15 to earn the win. Gordon College junior Damon Kilgore won the individual title, finishing at 15:34.56.

Salve Regina returns to action at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 17. 

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Courtesy of Rob McGuinness