Posted: Oct 26, 2020

Four seniors tabbed to lead Seahawk harriers

Salve Regina women's cross country captains for 2020-21 (l to r): Kat Bruce, Sydney DeCesare, Jill LeBeau, Fran Moore

NEWPORT, R.I. (October 26, 2020) -- Seniors Katerina Bruce (Dalton, Mass.), Sydney DeCesare (Johnston, R.I.), Jillian LeBeau (Bristol, Conn.) and Francesca Moore (Old Saybrook, Conn.) have been appointed captains of Salve Regina University's women's cross country team for the 2020-2021 season.

While none of the university's teams will compete this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the captains are playing a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the cross country team, leading their teammates through training sessions and working behind the scenes to ensure that their fellow harriers have a memorable experience.

"The role of captain on our team is definitely not a ceremonial position. Our leaders are involved in decisions that affect the team, and they're an important line of communication between the coaching staff and their peers," said head coach Rob McGuinness. "Kat, Syd, Jill and Fran all bring different qualities to their position. They do an excellent job of dividing the work that is delegated to them, and they get things done. I appreciate their feedback and all of the hard work they've invested in the team."

DeCesare is the incumbent captain in the group, having served on the leadership team last year. She has been among the Seahawks' varsity regulars throughout her college career, representing the team in three NCAA Division III New England Regional Championships. DeCesare was named the team's Rookie of the Year in 2017 and its Most Improved Runner in 2018. She appeared in 18 cross country meets for Salve Regina, with collegiate- and personal-best times of 20:27 for 5K and 24:46 for 6K.

Bruce has also been a regular varsity contributor during her four years on the team. The 2019 season was her most consistent, and she represented the program in the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship for the first time. She appeared in 18 cross country meets for Salve Regina, with collegiate-best times of 20:51 for 5K and 25:23 for 6K. Bruce made her marathon debut at the Newport Marathon in April 2019 and was in training for the Vermont City Marathon before the pandemic caused races to be cancelled.

Moore has been a consistent performer during her four years on the team and occasionally placed within the varsity lineup. She was a scoring contributor in Salve Regina's victories at the Roger Williams Invitational in 2017 and the Tri-State Invitational in 2017 and 2018. Moore also represented the team in the USATF New England Cross Country Championships in 2019. She appeared in 17 meets for the Seahawks, with collegiate-best times of 21:16 for 5K and 26:24 for 6K. Moore was training for her marathon debut prior to the pandemic.

LeBeau, a former All-Commonwealth Coast Conference honoree in the javelin, is best known for her work ethic and positive attitude. She has long been a leader among her training partners and encourages her teammates to bring their best effort to workouts and meets. LeBeau has appeared in 15 cross country meets for Salve Regina, with collegiate-best times of 22:40 for 5K and 28:19 for 6K.

"This leadership team has the added challenge of making the best of a difficult situation, with the team out of competition and with numerous pandemic protocols affecting our training and our lives," McGuinness said. "They've responded with resilience and creativity. I would have expected nothing less of these four, and I'm proud to have them represent our program."