CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Four America East teams travelled to Stanley Park in New Britain, Conn., to take part in the Central Connecticut Mini Meet. Hartford, UMass Lowell, New Hampshire, and Stony Brook took this final weekend as a tune up for the America East Cross Country Championship in Orono, Maine this weekend.
Male Performer of the Week
Zachary Ganshirt, Junior, UMass Lowell, Walpole, Mass.
- Zachary Ganshirt placed 16th in the Central Connecticut State University Mini Meet (5K).
- Ganshirt ran the course in the time of 15:24.53, a personal best by thirty seconds, and led all America East competitors in the race.
- The UMass Lowell River Hawks placed top among all America East schools, sitting at seventh out of a field of 19 competing teams. Central Connecticut won the event, with Providence and Yale finishing second and third.
Female Performer of the Week
Laura Rose Donegan, New Hampshire, Junior, Melbourne, Australia
- Laura Rose Donegan led the Wildcats, and paced the entirety of America East competitors, placing third at the Central Connecticut State University Mini Meet (3K).
- Donegan ran the short course with a time of 10:11.
- New Hampshire palced fourth at the meet, finishing behind Boston College, Providence, and Yale; all of whom are ranked in the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA.
Men's Cross Country Notes
- UMass Lowell was the top finishing team for the America East with their seventh place finish at the CCSU Mini Meet (5k).
- The River Hawks were led by junior, Zachary Ganshirt, who finished the course with a time of 15:24.53, good enough for a 16th place individual finish. Other River Hawk runners ran well; freshman Dhahran Velasquez did so in front of friends and family, finishing 22nd with a time of 15:29.00.
- New Hampshire finished 12th at the CCSU meet. The Wildcats were paced by sophomore Mitchell Dutton (15:45) and senior Joseph Jourdain (15:53) who both finished 46th and 61st respectively. The Seawolves of Stony Brook finished two spots below the Wildcats in 14th; sophomore Alexander Gifford was the leader for Stony Brook finishing 65th (15:58.22). Hartford concluded the race in 18th as a team, led by junior, Auburn, Mass. native, Bryan Quitadamo.
- The USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Regional Cross Country Rankings did not update this week. UMBC remains at number nine in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and New Hampshire sits at 12th in the Northeast Region.
- All America East schools will be sending their top runners to Orono, Maine for this weekend’s America East Cross Country Championship.
Women's Cross Country Notes
- Laura Rose Donegan finished the CCSU Mini Meet (3K) in third, running the course with a time of 10:11.
- Donegan was the catalyst for a fourth place New Hampshire team finish. The Wildcats placed below three teams that are currently ranked in the top ten of the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA in Boston College, Providence, and Yale.
- As a team, UMass Lowell notched a top ten team finish placing ninth as a team. River Hawk sophomore grabbed 23rd place in a time of 10:39. The Hartford Hawks took 12th place and were led by Carly Schuyler. Schuyler ran the 3K with a time of 10:50.17, which notched her a 31st individual placement. Stony Brook finished in 13th out of the 20 competing teams. The Seawolves leading runner was sophomore Molly Persky (10:55.04).
- With the USTFCCCA Divisional I Regional Cross Country Rankings not changing this week, UMBC still sits in 13th in the Mid-Atlantic Region. In the Northeast Region, New Hampshire stands at sixth, and Stony Brook remains in 13th.
- This University of Maine is hosting the America East Cross Country Championship this weekend; all schools will be converging on Orono, Maine to compete.
Weekly Awards
Sept. 9 – Men's Performer of the Week: Dan Moroney, Vermont; Women's Performer of the Week: Molly Pezzulo, Albany
Sept. 16 – Men's Performer of the Week: Hassan Omar, UMBC; Women's Performer of the Week: Alicia Clark, Vermont
Sept. 23 – Men’s Performer of the Week: Robert Allen, UMass Lowell; Women’s Performer of the Week: Silvia Del Fava, Albany
Sept. 30 – Men’s Performer of the Week: Eric Speakman, Stony Brook; Women’s Performer of the Week: Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire
Oct. 7 – Men’s Performer of the Week: Hassan Omar, UMBC; Women’s Performer of the Week: Silvia Del Fava, Albany
Oct. 14 – Men’s Performer of the Week: John Prizzi, New Hampshire; Women’s Performer of the Week: Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire
Oct. 21 – Men’s Performer of the Week: Eric Speakman, Stony Brook; Women’s Performer of the Week: Christina Melian, Stony Brook
Oct. 28 – Men’s Performer of the Week: Zachary Ganshirt, UMass Lowell; Women’s Performer of the Week: Laura Rose Donegan, New Hampshire