CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Senior Matt Paulson of Boston University and freshman Laura Rose Donegan of New Hampshire were the top America East runners at the annual Paul Short Run over the weekend, earning themselves the cross country weekly honors along the way. Both harriers finished raced in the Gold tier of the invitational, which included more than 300 men and women from some top notch cross country programs, including several nationally ranked squads.
Paulson (Manchester, N.H.) registered a 32nd place finish in the 8k race with a time of 24:43. Friday's race marked the second time this season that Paulson has been the Terriers top finisher, as he also raced to a first place finish in the Bryan Invitational. Paulson's efforts placed him among the top 10 percent of runners on the day, as his Terriers led all America East squads and placed 15th out of 37 teams.
In the women's 6k race, Donegan (Melbourne, Australia) continued her steller first season for New Hampshire, registering a 25th place finish with a time of 21:00. Donegan, having already placed second at the America East Pre-Conference meet, has established herself as one of the top female runners in the conference after outpacing more than 300 participants on Friday. Her outstanding race helped New Hampshire to a ninth place finish in a field of 40. The Wildcats were also the top America East school on the women's side.
Also at the Paul Short Run, New Hampshire and Binghamton ran in the men's Gold tier alongside Boston U., placing 33rd and 35th respectively. The men from Stony Brook and Vermont were a part of the Brown tier, as the Seawolves came in third place and the Catamounts finished 11th. Eric Speakman (Napier, New Zealand) of Stony Brook had a great race, finishing second with a time of 25:03.
All five women's squads from the America East were in the Gold tier, with Stony Brook and Vermont occupying the 11th and 12th spots in the team standings. Meanwhile Boston U. placed 26th and Binghamton followed in 36th. Keely Maguire (Georgetown, Mass.) of New Hampshire and Olivia Burne (Palmerston North, New Zealand) of Stony Brook weren't far behind Donegan, as the duo placed 30th and 32nd respectively.
Elsewhere around the conference, Albany hosted the 46th Annual UAlbany Cross Country Invitational and swept the men's and women's races. The Great Danes were led by first-place finishes from both Ethan Clary and Brittney Lane. Meanwhile UMBC took place in the Mason Invitational, with both the men and women taking fourth-place.
This weekend is another busy one for America East cross country, as five squads -- Boston U., Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont -- will take part in the 100th running of the New England Collegiate Championships at Stanley Park in Westfield, Mass. The remaining four schools are off this weekend.
2012 America East Cross Country Performers of the Week
Sept. 5 -- Men: Daniel Denis (Stony Brook); Women: Annie Keown (Stony Brook)
Sept. 11 -- Men: Kelton Cullenberg (Maine); Women: Corey Conner (Maine)
Sept. 18 -- Men: Rich Peters (Boston U.); Women: Corey Conner (Maine)
Sept. 25 -- Men: Kelton Cullenberg (Maine); Women: Corey Conner (Maine)
Oct. 1 -- Men: Matt Paulson (Boston U.); Women: Laura Rose Donegan (New Hampshire)