Skyhawks looking for ninth title in 11 years
NCAA Division II East Regional Championship Central
Lastra was the runner up at last years' East Regional (PHOTO BY: Greg Wall) |
EASTON, Massachusetts (November 8, 2019) – The Stonehill College women's cross country team, who is ranked No. 2 in the East Regional U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, will attempt to punch its 20th-straight ticket to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships this Saturday, November 9 at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by Jefferson University. The women's six-kilometer race will begin the Championship at noon, followed by the men's 10-kilometer race at 1:15 p.m.
Last year, Stonehill earned its 15th East Regional title in program history, punching its 19th-straight ticket to NCAA Championships. Senior Anna Lastra returns as the runner up at the East Regionals, where she will compete in her fourth East Regional Championship, as she looks to pick up her third All-East Region honor.
Stonehill won the Northeast-10 Conference Championship two weekends ago at Jamesville Beach State Park in Jamesville, New York, in dominating fashion, placing seven in the top 25, as six earned All-Conference honors. Junior Sam Curtin led the way with her third-place finish and third-straight All-Conference recognition and second first team honor. She will toe the line for her third NCAA Division II East Regional Championship, as she has been named to the All-East Region team twice in her career.
Senior Alyssa Freeman also brings experience to the line running in her third East Regional Championship on Saturday. The senior has collected two All-East Region team honors and finished ninth at last years' race.
Junior Sophia Anderle will run in her second East Regional Championship, last competing during her freshman year as she placed 28th. Anderle earned second team All-Conference honors two weekends ago. Senior Jordan Callahan will toe the line for her second East Regional Championship as she placed 19th last year and eighth in this years' NE10 Championship.
Sophomore Siobhan O'Keefe has been impressive all season leading the Skyhawks in just about every meet, as she was named to the NE10 All-Conference first team with a seventh-place finish. This will be her second East Regional Championship.
Junior Jillian Howard competes in her first East Regional Championship following a sixth-place finish and All-Conference first team recognition at the NE10 Championship.
With a top-three finish on Saturday, Stonehill would advance to its 17th-consecutive NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship. The Championship will take place on Saturday, November 23 at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California, hosted by California State, Sacramento.
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