Oct. 8, 2011

BOSTON, MASS. - Several members of the Providence College men's and women's cross country teams took part in the New England Championships Saturday, with the men grabbing 12th out of 43 squads and the women placing 12th out of 39.

Both squads held many of the number idle in anticipation for next weekend's Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

The Friar men, currently ranked 24th in the nation, were paced by freshman Liam Hillery (Smithfield, R.I.), who finished 18th out of a 282-runner field. Hillery completed the 4.95-mile course, at Boston's Franklin Park, in 25:15. His time was 1:03 behind the individual winner, AIC's Glarius Rop (24:12).

Providence juniors Eric Malnati (Walpole, N.H.; 25:28) and Alex Wallace (Waipukarau, New Zealand; 25:30) crossed 26th and 27th, respectively, followed by senior Corey Brunelle (Woonsocket, R.I.; 26:37) who scored in 103rd. Freshman Luke Perron (West Hartford, Conn.; 26:52) rounded out the scoring in 124th.

Providence tallied 298 points total. Connecticut took the team title with 149.

The Friar women, currently ranked as the number two team in the nation, were paced by senior Mary Kate Champagne (Plattsburg, N.Y.), who collected 25th place out of 269 runners. She completed the 5-kilometer endeavor in 18:30, 1:12 behind the winner, Boston University's Katie Matthews (17:18).

Friar sophomore Erin Murphy (Attleboro, Mass.; 18:46) was 41st, followed closely by junior Sam Roecker (Charlton, N.Y.; 18:58) in 56th. Freshman Julie Solimine (Haverill, Mass.; 19:21) crossed in 86th. Sophomore Elizabeth DeVivo (Riverside, Conn.; 20:01) rounded out the scoring in 133rd.

The Wisconsin adidas Invitational will be held on Friday, October 14th, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Providence Men (4.95 miles)
  1     18  Liam Hillery                  25:15
  2     26  Eric Malnati                  25:28
  3     27  Alex Wallace                  25:30
  4    103  Corey Brunelle                26:37
  5    124  Luke Perron                   26:52
  6   (197) Matt Terry                    27:45
  7   (228) Edward Jennings               28:33

Providence Women (5K)
  1     25  Mary Kate Champagne           18:30
  2     41  Erin Murphy                   18:46
  3     56  Samantha Roecker              18:58
  4     86  Julie Solimine                19:21
  5    133  Elizabeth DeVivo              20:01
  6   (142) Caile Kohlbrenner             20:07
  7   (191) Molly McCann                  20:49
- Go Friars -