Brewer, Lynch lead Seahawks at Connecticut College Invitational

WATERFORD, Conn. – Senior Scott Brewer (Wilbraham, Mass.) and freshman Aidan Lynch (Little Silver, N.J.) were the top finishers for Salve Regina as the Seahawks raced against an elite field at the Connecticut College Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.

The meet included several of the top programs in the northeast, with seven teams holding regional rankings and four holding national rankings in the most recent polls from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Steady rain softened the championship course at Harkness Memorial State Park, leaving runners to navigate puddles and mud along the loops that comprised the 8,000-meter course. However, the weather conditions did little to dampen the caliber of the competition or the quality of the top performances.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute junior Grant O'Connor cruised to a convincing individual win, crossing the finish line at 24:32.4, more than 20 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor. O'Connor and his RPI teammates, ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Region and No. 6 in the national poll, would place scorers in the top 20 as the Engineers claimed the team championship with a score of 55.

Middlebury College, ranked No. 4 in New England and No. 18 in the national poll, finished second with 77 points. The Panthers also placed four runners in the top 20 in their runner-up effort. Connecticut College, ranked No. 8 in New England, finished third with 124 points.

SUNY Oneonta (No. 6, Atlantic), Brandeis University (No. 6, New England; No. 28, National), Ramapo College of New Jersey (No. 9, Atlantic) and Tufts University (No. 7, New England; No. 35, National) were next in the scoring among the 20 complete teams.

The Seahawks found themselves battling for position in the second half of the elite field, with Lynch and Brewer splitting the first mile at 5:30 and 5:34. The two held their pace through the second and third miles and would finish as the only Salve Regina runners inside the top 200. Seniors Andrew Sardelli (Hope Valley, R.I.) and Dave Napierkowski (Cheshire, Conn.) and sophomore Riley Rancourt (Warren, R.I.) rounded out the scoring for the Seahawks.

Salve Regina performances included:

183. Scott Brewer – 28:56.6
189. Aidan Lynch – 29:06.5
206. Andrew Sardelli – 29:30.2
208. Dave Napierkowski – 29:34.7
216. Riley Rancourt – 29:47.4
233. Dan Donnelly – 30:26.9
250. Chandler Da Cruz – 31:03.9
255. Brendan Kelly – 31:27.5
273. Neil Sheehan – 33:25.9
282. Jack Farrell – 40:05.8

The Seahawks will return to action at the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship on Oct. 28.