Posted: Oct 29, 2016

Seahawks finish second in CCC; Varone earns all-conference honors

Victoria Varone placed sixth in a field of 107 runners to lead the scoring for the Seahawks. (Photo by Jen McGuinness)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Victoria Varone (Providence, R.I.) earned a spot on the all-Commonwealth Coast Conference Team in leading Salve Regina to a second-place finish in the CCC Championship on Saturday.

Varone placed sixth in the field of 107 runners to lead the scoring for the Seahawks, finishing the 6K course in 23:40 and earning her second all-CCC bid. Varone last earned all-CCC honors in 2013, when she was also the top freshman in the conference.

The Nor'easters of the University of New England swept to a fifth consecutive conference championship, claiming the first five spots in scoring and placing their entire top seven on the all-conference team. UNE junior Emma Robidoux won the individual title, crossing the finish line at 23:16.

The Seahawks tried to challenge early, with senior Amy Irving (Bohemia, N.Y.) taking the lead in the opening loop of the grass-and-trail course on the campus of Western New England University. Irving, whose racing appearances have been limited in recent years due to injuries, dropped back after the opening 800 meters.

UNE had claimed the top three spots by 2,000 meters. A second pack included the remaining Nor'easters and the first three Salve Regina runners, with a second pack of three Seahawks not far behind. But when the leaders emerged from the woods with less than 1,600 meters remaining, UNE had clear control of the race, and Salve Regina was squarely in second.

Freshman Cianna Lynch (Cranston, R.I.) moved into the No. 2 spot for the Seahawks, finishing at 24:35. Sophomore Alex Demeo (Burlington, Mass.) ran at No. 3, one second back at 24:36, and junior Olivia Wilson (Bethel, Conn.) crossed the line at 24:43. Junior Alexa Cipkas (Granby, Conn.) finished out the scoring at 24:54.

Salve Regina performances:

6. Victoria Varone – 23:40
13. Cianna Lynch – 24:35
15. Alex Demeo – 24:36
17. Olivia Wilson – 24:43
20. Alexa Cipkas – 24:54
23. Amy Irving – 25:11
24. Taylor Ricker – 25:14
34. Olivia Owen – 25:45
39. Ashley Schafer – 25:57
42. Alannah O'Rourke – 26:09
47. Jessica Graham – 26:32
54. Rachel Sandri – 26:51
66. Hannah Lussier – 27:33
68. Nicole Schafer – 28:02
75. Molly Kittler – 28:18
76. Tatiana Mehos – 28:20
77. Finn Collins – 28:49
79. Taylor Maddalena – 28:51
84. Mabelitza Guzman – 29:28
91. Alexa Vargas – 30:45
97. Haliey Slotter – 32:01
101. Melissa Cappitella – 38:00

Salve Regina will return to action on Saturday, when Olivia Owen, Alannah O'Rourke, Jessica Graham, Rachel Sandri, Hannah Lussier, Ashley Schafer and Nicole Schafer will represent the team in the ECAC Division III Championship at Milton, N.Y.

Results:
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/16/ma/Oct29_Common_1_set1.shtml