Wildcats Take 5th and Earn Sportsmanship Award at 2011 NECC XC Championships
New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship
At Nashua, NH
MEN: Lesley 23, Mitchell 34, Daniel Webster 81, Southern Vermont 88, Elms 138
WOMEN: Lesley 15, Mitchell 74, Wheelock 97, Elms 99, Bay Path 130, Daniel Webster 153, Southern Vermont 164
NASHUA, N.H. – Lesley University captured both the men's and women's cross country New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship Saturday at a chilled Mines Falls Park, hosted by Daniel Webster College. Bay Path's junior Danielle Brown (Cromwell, Conn.) placed in the top 20 at 18th with a time of 24:12.
Lesley dominated the WOMEN's race, scoring a perfect 15 points, to capture their fourth consecutive title, the only program to ever win the crown since the NECC began four seasons ago. The Lynx took the first seven spots paced by individual champion Leah Miller (Thomaston, Conn.) who won the 5k course in 19:07 with a 6:10 pace, outdistancing teammate Elise McKelvey (Baltimore, Ohio) who took second 40 seconds behind.
The Lynx were followed by Mitchell College (74 points), Wheelock College (97), Elms College (99), Bay Path College (130), host Daniel Webster (153) and Southern Vermont College (164), while Newbury College and Wheelock College did not score.
Lesley's Anastassia Lutkevich (Mansfield, Mass.), Keryn Thorvaldsen (Sayville, N.Y.), and Noa Kupfer (Woodbridge, Conn.) finished out the top five, respectively to take automatic first team all-conference honors.
The all-conference second team for finishers six through 10 respectively, included Lesley's Kat Vacino (Mattapoisett, Mass.) and Jacqueline Rosa (Wolcott, Conn.) along with Mitchell's Bridget Burns (Clark, N.J.) who placed eighth overall, taking top rookie honors, Lesley's Elissa May (Middleboro, Mass.) and Newbury's Solange Thomas (Webster, Mass.).
For the host Eagles, Sarah Paternostro (Glastonbury, Conn.) took 13th overall in 23:01. Antonina Feola (Simsbury, Conn.) placed 35th in 26:53, Alycia Gervais (Windham, Conn.) was 40th in 27:46, Jen Fredericks (Beacon Falls, Conn.) took 43rd in 27:52, Kacie Lang (Raymond, N.H.) was 44th in 28:07, and Alyssa Marson (Bangor, Maine) was 45th in 28:15.
On the MEN's side, Lesley earned their third successive title, besting the field with 23 points, followed by Mitchell (34), Daniel Webster (81), Southern Vermont (88), and Elms (138), while Newbury and Wheelock did not score.
Mitchell freshman Sherif Ali (Cliffside, Park, N.J.) took the individual crown to capture automatic player and rookie of the year honors, taking the five-mile course in 27:04 with a 5:25 pace. Ali edged out Lesley's Kyle Casiglio (Shelton, Conn.) who finished just six seconds behind.
Lesley's Evan Reseska (Holliston, Mass.) took third while teammate Chris Conforti (Brattleboro, Vt.) was fourth and Mitchell's Evan Garrity (Washington, Conn.) took fifth. The top five finishers earned automatic first team all-conference honors.
The second team all-conference squad, for those who placed 6th through 10th respectively, included Lesley's Max Bulger (Portland, Maine), Mitchell's Andrew Castagna (Westerly, R.I.), Lesley's Dillon Simmons, Daniel Webster's Josh Cosgrove (Sterling, Mass.), and Mitchell's Jake Ustjanauskas (West Hartford, Conn.).
Host Daniel Webster was also paced by Eric Caron (Groveton, N.H.) who took 12th in 31:36, Matthew Miller (East Granby, Conn.) who placed 21st in 33:05, Marty Davis (Bloomsburg, Penn.) who took 22nd in 33:44, Coby Costa (Bantam, Conn.) who was 26th in 36:25, and Darrik Marstaller (Spofford, N.H.) who took 30th in 37:31.
Amy Lane of Elms earned both men's and women's "Coach of the Year" honors for the first time. Newbury College earned the men's Team Sportsmanship Award for the second straight season and third time in four years, while Bay Path was honored with the women's Team Sportsmanship Award for the second straight season.
NECC Championships at Mines Falls Park, Nashua, NH
MEN – TEAM
Lesley – 23
Mitchell – 34
Daniel Webster – 81
Southern Vermont – 88
Elms – 138
Newbury – DNQ
Wheelock – DNQ
Runner of the Year: Sharif Ali, Mitchell
Rookie of the Year: Sharif Ali, Mitchell
Coach of the Year: Amy Lane, Elms
Team Sportsmanship Award: Newbury
First Team All-Conference
Sharif Ali, Mitchell
Kyle Casiglio, Lesley
Evan Reseska, Lesley
Chris Conforti, Lesley
Evan Garrity, Mitchell
Second Team All-Conference
Max Bulger, Lesley
Andrew Castagna, Mitchell
Dillon Simmons, Lesley
Josh Cosgrove, Daniel Webster
Jake Ustjanauskas, Mitchell
WOMEN – TEAM
Lesley – 15
Mitchell – 74
Wheelock – 97
Elms – 99
Bay Path – 130
Daniel Webster – 153
Southern Vermont – 164
Newbury – DNQ
Runner of the Year: Leah Miller, Lesley
Rookie of the Year: Bridget Burns, Mitchell
Coach of the Year: Amy Lane, Elms
Team Sportsmanship Award: Bay Path
First Team All-Conference
Leah Miller, Lesley
Elize McKelvey, Lesley
Anastassia Lutkevich, Lesley
Keryn Thorvaldsen, Lesley
Noa Kupfer, Lesley
Second Team All-Conference
Kat Vicino, Lesley
Jacqueline Rosa, Lesley
Bridget Burns, Mitchell
Elissa May, Lesley
Solange Thomas, Newbury