Program records fall in regional championship meet
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior Victoria Varone (Providence, R.I.) led the way on a record-setting day for Salve Regina at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship on Saturday.
Varone opened the race with a 5:55 mile, taking advantage of a good start to gain position in the field of 406 runners. She continued to advance in the woods, and was around the top 50 when the field emerged from the trails on the 6K course at Stanley Park.
The captain crossed the finish line at 22:28.91 – a 42-second personal best at 6K – and placed 50th overall, the best regional placement by a Salve Regina harrier in the last 20 years.
"This was an incredible day for Victoria, and I am so proud to see her finish her college career this way," said head coach Rob McGuinness. "This race went exactly as planned, and Victoria got the ending that she deserved. All of her hard work paid off."
Junior Olivia Wilson (Bethel, Conn.) ran at No. 2, posting a 34-second personal best to finish 91st at 23:15.06. Wilson is now the third-fastest Seahawk of all time at 6K. Freshman Cianna Lynch (Cranston, R.I.) had a 35-second personal best in the No. 3 spot, crossing the finish line at 23:31.79. Sophomore Alex Demeo (Burlington, Mass.) and senior Taylor Ricker (Rocky Point, N.Y.) finished out the scoring for Salve Regina.
The Seahawks combined for a team time of 1:57:15.32 – an average of 23:27 per runner – to break the program record at 6K. The previous mark – 1:57:24.1 – was set earlier this season at the Connecticut College Invitational.
Salve Regina's finish – 16 of 59 complete teams, with 63 programs represented – and team score of 544 also represent program records for performance in an NCAA regional championship. The previous program bests – 18 of 57, 575 – were set in 2014.
"Looking at the results of this meet, it is evident that we are in good company in an incredibly competitive region," McGuinness said. "To see the team break a record at 6K and to place as we did is a validation of all of the work that we've done for the last few months. What a way to finish."
Salve Regina performances:
50. Victoria Varone – 22:28.91
91. Olivia Wilson – 23:15.06
113. Cianna Lynch – 23:31.79
135. Alex Demeo – 23:48.02
158. Taylor Ricker – 24:11.53
187. Alexa Cipkas – 24:32.90
245. Olivia Owen – 25:29.72
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the team title with a score of 68 points. Williams College was second with 71. Tufts University junior Brittany Bowman won the individual championship with a time of 21:14.29.
The regional meet marks the end of the 2016 racing season for Salve Regina.
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Courtesy of Rob McGuinness
