Spring Break
Rhody runners compete in NE championships
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: Sports
10/17/08 - Both the men's and women's cross country team finished in the middle of the pack at the 2008 New England Intercollegiate Cross Country championships this past weekend.
The men's team finished 39th in a field of 47, with a score of 1134. University of The Massachusetts at Lowell won the race with 79 points. Boston College's Tim Ritchie was the individual winner finishing the eight-kilometer with a time of 24:35.
"It was a great race for us to get out there and see some very good competition," said assistant coach Kyle Poland.
Junior Ryan Karwiel crossed the finish line first for the Rams, finishing in 135th place. After running the race in 26:56. Following him was junior Nathan Ruchames, getting 223rd place with a time of 27:43.
"Karwiel has done a great job motivating the other guys, he has really stepped it up," Poland said.
Junior Daniel Hawkins ran well, with a time of 28:12, good for 247th place. Finishing close behind him was 258th place finisher and freshman Michael Pezzullo, clocking in at 28:24. Freshman Joseph Ferro rounded out the scoring for the Rams, finishing 268th due to a time of 28:45.
Michael Liu was the final URI runner to finish, in 295th place with a time of 30:05. The Rams only ran six runners in the race, rather than seven. Freshman Kevin Healey was unable to compete with tendonitis in his knee.
The Rams will continue competition in a dual meet hosted by Central Connecticut at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 25.
"It will be a nice tune-up race before we compete in the Atlantic 10 championships," Poland said.
The women's squad also did well, running their way to a score of 743 to finish in 27th place. Boston College finished first out of the 45-team field, with a score of 38 points. The individual winner of the five-kilometer race was Andrea Walkonen of Boston University, with a time of 17:19.
In her first race of the season, sophomore Mary Najarian led all Rams with an 82nd place finish. She ran the course in 19:17. Following close behind her was sophomore Brittany Pelsue, with a time of 19:31.
Junior Kat Allard finished 167th with a time of 20:10. Just 10 seconds behind her was freshman Emily Zaccardi, whose 20:20 time was good for 184th.
"We ran really well as a team," Zaccardi said. "It was a great experience."
To round out all the scoring for URI, sophomore Caitrin Demchko finished in 201st place with a time of 20:35.
The Rams return to action Saturday at the University of Albany Invitational in Albany, N.Y.
"I'm really looking forward to the next race, it will be a great opportunity for our team to improve on our way to the Atlantic 10 championships," Zaccardi said.
The men's team finished 39th in a field of 47, with a score of 1134. University of The Massachusetts at Lowell won the race with 79 points. Boston College's Tim Ritchie was the individual winner finishing the eight-kilometer with a time of 24:35.
"It was a great race for us to get out there and see some very good competition," said assistant coach Kyle Poland.
Junior Ryan Karwiel crossed the finish line first for the Rams, finishing in 135th place. After running the race in 26:56. Following him was junior Nathan Ruchames, getting 223rd place with a time of 27:43.
"Karwiel has done a great job motivating the other guys, he has really stepped it up," Poland said.
Junior Daniel Hawkins ran well, with a time of 28:12, good for 247th place. Finishing close behind him was 258th place finisher and freshman Michael Pezzullo, clocking in at 28:24. Freshman Joseph Ferro rounded out the scoring for the Rams, finishing 268th due to a time of 28:45.
Michael Liu was the final URI runner to finish, in 295th place with a time of 30:05. The Rams only ran six runners in the race, rather than seven. Freshman Kevin Healey was unable to compete with tendonitis in his knee.
The Rams will continue competition in a dual meet hosted by Central Connecticut at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 25.
"It will be a nice tune-up race before we compete in the Atlantic 10 championships," Poland said.
The women's squad also did well, running their way to a score of 743 to finish in 27th place. Boston College finished first out of the 45-team field, with a score of 38 points. The individual winner of the five-kilometer race was Andrea Walkonen of Boston University, with a time of 17:19.
In her first race of the season, sophomore Mary Najarian led all Rams with an 82nd place finish. She ran the course in 19:17. Following close behind her was sophomore Brittany Pelsue, with a time of 19:31.
Junior Kat Allard finished 167th with a time of 20:10. Just 10 seconds behind her was freshman Emily Zaccardi, whose 20:20 time was good for 184th.
"We ran really well as a team," Zaccardi said. "It was a great experience."
To round out all the scoring for URI, sophomore Caitrin Demchko finished in 201st place with a time of 20:35.
The Rams return to action Saturday at the University of Albany Invitational in Albany, N.Y.
"I'm really looking forward to the next race, it will be a great opportunity for our team to improve on our way to the Atlantic 10 championships," Zaccardi said.
