Skyhawks finish first among all NCAA Division II programs
DORCHESTER, Mass. (October 8, 2011) – The Stonehill College women's cross country team, ranked 14th in the most recent U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II national poll and first in the East Regional poll, placed 15th overall at the New England Championships at Franklin Park on Saturday afternoon.
Boston University senior Katie Matthews (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) earned top individual honors covering the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes and 18 seconds. Boston College won the meet scoring 38 points while the Terriers, behind Matthews first place finish, ranked second overall with 73 points and the University of Vermont ranked third overall (118 points).
Among all Division II programs, Stonehill finished first at the New England Championships ranking ahead of Saint Michael's (26th overall, 708 points), Bentley University (27th overall, 716 points) and UMass Lowell (29th overall, 852 points), among others, with 467 points.
Stonehill freshman Brianna Venturo (Taunton, Mass./Coyle & Cassidy) paced the Skyhawks in their 15th place finish overall with a time of 19:07 on the 5-kilometer layout, 68th individually.
Sophomore Sarah Biggers (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Lakeland) ranked 78th overall in 19:16 while junior Kristen Veit (Easthampton, Mass./Holyoke Catholic) finished 103rd overall (19:35). Sophomore Chelsea Bishop (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) ran a time of 19:38 (108th overall) and junior Caroline McBride (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) rounded out the top-five crossing the finish line in 19 minutes and 42 seconds (110th overall).
Stonehill returns to action on Sunday, October 23 at the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) Championships hosted by AIC at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass. at 11 a.m.
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