Big East XC meet

[Nevada Hoya]

For those alums in the Boston area the 2004 Big East XC champs will be help on Friday, Oct. 29 at Franklin Park. The men go off at 11:00 am on a 8K course, while the women go at 11:50am (the website says pm, but I don't think they are having the women run at night) on the 6K course.

More details (directions and course maps), go to www.bigeast.org/sports/xcountry/#

Notre Dame is the Hoyas' biggest challenger (on paper) on the men's side, but Villanova and Providence are always in there. The Hoyas won last year.

[Nevada Hoya]

There is a story in the Georgetown Voice today that explains why the women have been having problems this year. Injuries to key runners is the problem. The good news is that Jodee Adams-Moore will be back for the race tomorrow, plus Jenny Funk, a highly rated freshman. As suspected Elizabeth Maloy is still injured.

www.georgetownvoice.com/news/784370.html?mkey=950571

[Nevada Hoya]

Nice interview with Nicole Lee, who has been leading the depleted women's team this year.

www.trackshark.com/interviews/2005/nicole_lee.php

[Nevada Hoya]

Early reports. The race just ended about an hour ago, but I have heard that Notre Dame beat the Hoyas (men) by one point. Chris Lukezic looks like he might have finished 2nd. More later.

[Nevada Hoya]

More on the men's race. Some very fast times:

From an eye witness:

1) Curtis - Nova 23:26
2) Lukezic - G'town
3) Koborski - G'town
4) Fagan - Prov
5) ?
6) Tim Moore - ND 23:54
7) Kurt Benninger - ND 23:55
8) Kaleb VanOrt - ND 23:55
9) Sean O'Donnell - ND 23:55
10) ?
11) ?
12) G'town 3rd man
13) ?
14) ?
15) G'town 4th man (hower?)
16) G'town 5th man (esselborn?)
17) Vinny Ambrico - ND 24:27

ND wins 47 (6,7,8,9,17) to 48 over G'town (2,3,12,15,16). Apparently Ambrico kicked down 3 guys in the final straight to seal the victory and "reverse the curse" for ND at Franklin Park. 33 second spread for the Irish.

As for the individual battle, Koborski was leading the race by 25m until they went into the woods the final time. Curtis came out with a slight lead over Lukezic and Koborski hung on for 3rd.

[Nevada Hoya]

The women finished fourth led by Nicole Lee. The top three men's teams were separated by 4 points. Some more results:

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (6,000 meters)
Top-10 Finishers
1. Kim Smith PC 19:23
2. Mary Cullen PC 20:10
3. Maureen McCandless PITT 20:11
4. Fiona Crombie PC 20:11
5. Molly Huddle ND 20:16
6. Marina Muncan VU 20:27
7. Megan Metcalfe WVU 20:32
8. Nicole Lee GTown 20:34
9. Maria Cicero BC 20:36
10. Stephanie Madia ND 21:00
-

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Providence 42
2. Notre Dame 67
3. Villanova 84
4. Georgetown 121



MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (8,000 meters)
Top-10 Finishers
1. Bobby Curtis VU 23:26
2. Chris Lukezic GTown 23:29
3. Rod Koborsi GTown 23:39
4. Martin Fagan PC 23:43
5. Dylan Wykes PC 23:48
6. Tim Moore ND 23:53
7. Kurt Benninger ND 23:54
8. Kaleb Van Ort ND 23:54
9. Sean O'Donnell ND 23:55
10. Patrick Moulton PC 24:05

#1 Notre Dame 48
Georgetown 49
Providence 52

[Nevada Hoya]

The results are up at www.bigeast.org (click on cross country).

The Georgetown men finishers:

2. Chris Lukezic 23:29
3. Rob Koborsi 23:39
12. Chris Esselborn 24:10
15. Fleet Hower 24:25
16. Steve Meinelt 24:25
27. Brian Dalpiaz 24:52
29. Dan Nunn 24:55
33. Michael Banks 24:59
48. Justin Scheid 25:26

The first four Hoyas made All Big East. A couple of comments: Matt Debole probably cost us the Big East title, in addition to the damage he did to Healy, by his foolish act of vandalism. Steve Meinelt was listed in the race as a senior. I am still wondering where he came from. Chris Esselborn ran a good race today, in addition to the other Chris and Rod. Those were some of the fastest times on the Franklin Park course.

Men’s Team Results (top 5 finishers)
1. Notre Dame 6 7 8 9 17 = 47 pts.
2. Georgetown 2 3 12 15 16 = 48 pts.
3. Providence 4 5 10 14 19 = 52 pts.
4. Villanova 1 11 13 18 22 = 65 pts.
5. Syracuse 25 32 35 40 44 = 176 pts.
6. Connecticut 21 31 34 48 49 = 189 pts.
7. Pittsburgh 29 37 39 41 47 = 193 pts.
8. Boston College 30 38 42 43 46 = 199 pts.
9. Rutgers 55 57 58 61 62 = 293 pts.
10. Seton Hall 45 54 66 67 68 = 300 pts.


Women’s Team Results (top 5 finishers)
1. Providence 1 2 4 15 20 = 42 pts
2. Notre Dame 5 10 12 19 21 = 67 pts
3. Villanova 6 11 18 23 26 = 84 pts
4. Georgetown 8 12 27 36 37 = 121 pts
5. West Virginia 7 17 25 32 41 = 122 pts
6. Boston College 9 14 33 38 40 = 134 pts
7. Pittsburgh 3 35 47 57 59 = 201 pts
8. Connecticut 16 34 49 52 55 = 206 pts
9. Rutgers 31 43 50 58 62 = 244 pts
10. Syracuse 22 48 54 67 68 = 259 pts
11. Seton Hall 61 71 73 76 78 = 359 pts
12. St. John’s 72 75 77 79 80 = 383 pts

[Nevada Hoya]

The women's individual finishers:

8. Nicole Lee 20:34 (6K course)
13. Maggie Infeld 21:05
27. Erin Henry 21:53
36. Melissa Grelli 22:19
37. Jenny Funk 22:19
42. Sabine Knothe22:33
45. Kelley Otstott 22:38
48. Jodee Adams-Moore 22:45
61. Meghan O'Neil 23:16

Nicole and Maggie made All Big East. Jenny and Jodee ran their first race of the year. It looks as if Jodee is suffering from lack of training due to her stress fracture in the foot. Frosh Jenny did well in her first collegiate race.

The future looks brighter than I thought with three Hoyas in the top six freshmen in the race and Sabine Knothe was the second sophomore in the race. The race was dominated by upper classwomen.

[reformation]

Results looked ok, probably slightly disappointing with men hoping for a win and women maybe for a 3rd, though i'm sure that the men are really geared toward the ncaa, and women toward the ncaa qualifier.

As far as the women's future goes, i think a lot will depend on whether E. Maloy returns and on recruiting--even though as you pointed out that the freshman placed well there was a huge time gap between M. Infeld and the others.

[Nevada Hoya]

I think the men are pointing for the NCAAs. This was Rod Koborsi's 2nd race of the year, so he should continue to improve. Chris Lukezic has started slowly this year, after much running (including the OT last year), so he looks great. I think Fleet Hower has better races in him. And what can I say about Steve Meinelt. If one of the freshmen or sophomores make a breakthrough we are in good shape. I am still hoping for a top 5 finish, which would include beating the Irish.

Women did a good job towards getting an at-large bid, by beating the #22 and #25 teams in the nation - West Virginia and BC. Yes, a lot depends on Elizabeth coming back. That stress fracture in her back really hurt her. Considering this was Jenny Funk's first collegiate race, I am sure there is a lot of improvement there. Melissa Grelli was one of the top HS runners last year, so there is potential for her too. A good recruiting year is important for taking us back where we belong.