Records fall again as Seahawks take second in CCC
BRISTOL, R.I. - Junior Amy Irving (Bohemia, N.Y.) and the Seahawk scoring five rewrote the record books for the second time this season, setting new individual and team marks at 6K in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship on Saturday. Salve Regina finished second overall.
Irving took the lead from the start and set the pace for the first half of the race, with the top two runners from the University of New England – juniors Tiana Thomas and Brittney Sorbello – in hot pursuit. Thomas and Sorbello overtook Irving in the final loop of the course at Colt State Park, but Irving caught Sorbello in the final stretch, crossing the finish line at 22:17.70 to break her own school record – previously, 22:39.1 – at 6K. Thomas won the race in 21:55.31, while Sorbello crossed the finish line at 22:21.57.
Senior captain Shannon Holden (Hingham, Mass.) was the second runner for Salve Regina, crossing the finish line in a personal-best time of 23:22.09. Holden finished seventh overall to earn a spot on the All-Commonwealth Coast Conference Team.
"Amy and Shannon were brilliant today. Amy executed very well and put herself in a position to contend for the championship, and Shannon delivered another rock-solid race, just as she has all season long. She was determined to earn a spot on the all-CCC team, and she made it happen," said head coach Rob McGuinness. "They were so impressive today, and I'm incredibly proud of them."
Sophomore Olivia Wilson (Bethel, Conn.) was the No. 3 runner for the Seahawks, finishing in a personal-best 23:57.95. Junior captain Victoria Varone (Providence, R.I.) was not far behind, crossing the line at 24:01.30. Junior Taylor Ricker (Rocky Point, N.Y.) posted a personal best time of 24:06.09 to round out the scoring.
The lineup of Irving, Holden, Wilson, Varone and Ricker combined for a team time of 1:57.45.13 – an average of 23:33.03 – to break the Salve Regina record for combined time at 6K. The previous record – 1:59.25.60 – was set just two weeks ago in the Connecticut College Invitational. The Seahawks' combined team time is also the fastest performance ever by a Salve Regina lineup on the 6K layout at Colt State Park.
"That was such an outstanding performance," McGuinness said. "I don't think we anticipated personal bests from four of our scoring five, six of our top seven and numerous others. It validates that we've been doing good work this season, and it's just one more measure of success for this team."
Alex Demeo (Burlington, Mass.), racing for the first time since September 19, had a solid debut at 6K. The freshman crossed the finish line at 24:24.46 and ran at No. 6 for Salve Regina. Senior captain Jackie Ofria (Manchester, Conn.) was the seventh runner for the Seahawks, running a personal-best time of 24:26.53.
Other Salve Regina finishers included:
Senior Joelle Ross (Simsbury, Conn.) – 24:40.10
Senior captain Aubrey Palmquist (Bristol, Conn.) – 25:12.25
Junior Alannah O'Rourke (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) – 25:26.03
Sophomore Alexa Cipkas (Granby, Conn.) – 25:27.06
Senior Lea Cure (Altamont, N.Y.) – 25:33.94
Sophomore Hannah Lussier (Belchertown, Mass.) – 26:09.29
Freshman Alley Rogers (Alton, N.H.) – 27:12.55
Freshman Molly Kittler (Pittsfield, Mass.) – 27:13.44
Senior Tori Maxson (Old Saybrook, Conn.) – 27:15.11
Senior Rachel Pyne (Foxboro, Mass.) – 27:26.95
Sophomore Ellen Tuttle (Monmouth, Maine) – 28:46.23
Junior Jessica Graham (Lowell, Mass.) – 28:49.04
Sophomore Mabelitza Guzman (Waterbury, Conn.) – 29:05.03.
Cure, Lussier, Kittler, Maxson, Tuttle and Guzman all posted personal-best times for 6K.
The University of New England placed all five of its scorers inside the top 10 to win the team title with a score of 24. Salve Regina finished second with 51 points. Gordon College was third with 88, and Endicott College was fourth with 101.
Salve Regina returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 7 in the ECAC Division III Cross Country Championship at Mt. Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, Mass.
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Courtesy of Rob McGuinness
