It has been a season to remember for Quinnipiac cross country, and the season ended Saturday with both the men’s and women’s programs competing in the NCAA Northeast Regional Meet at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y. The men’s team placed 12th out of 37 teams and the women improved to a best ever showing at the event coming in 23rd out of 35 teams.
Graduate student Thomas Martin (Commack, N.Y.) was the first overall finisher for Quinnipiac of the five mile course as he finished 43rd in the field of 229 runners with a time of 32:18.3. Martin won the NEC Championship meet and his performances this season have helped launch Quinnipiac cross country to the best season in the school’s history.
Junior Jeffrey Roginielewicz (Derby, Conn.) was the second Bobcat to cross the finish line as he was 50th with a time of 32:27.9. Third for the Bobcats was Junior Gregory Brink (Babylon, N.Y.), who finished in 71st place with a time of 32:49.0. Junior Gregory Toomey was fourth and came in 74th place with a time of 32:53.9 and graduate student Andrew Best was next to finish as he came in 101st with a time of 33:19.1.
Quinnipiac coach Ed O’Connor said on quinnipiacbobcats.com, “we were shooting for a top 10 finish and just missed.” Recalling the historical season he added, “overall, it has been a great season for us and I’m proud how the season ended.”
The women were led by freshman Susan Ashe (Clifton Park, N.Y.) as she came in 98th out of 219 runners, and she completed the six kilometer course in a time of 23:22.0. Second for the women was junior Jenna Nechamen (Salem, Conn.) as she came in 123rd overall with a time of 23:40.4. Following Nechamen was junior Joanna Perez (Port Murray, N.J.) as she finished in 144th place with a time of 24:04.0. Closely after Perez was freshman Abbey Gosling (Meredith, N.H.) as she came in 155th with a time of 24:11.4. Next for the lady Bobcats was sophomore Rachel Germain (Hempstead, N.Y.), who finished in 162nd place with a time of 24:24.9.
Head coach Shawn Green was pleased with the women’s season. “I’m really pleased with how the season went. This season will be a stepping stone for us to get to the next level,” he said, on quinnipiacbobcats.com.
NEC Championship winner, junior Katie Gwyther (Madison, N.H.), did not compete in the meet due to injury as injuries continue to plague both the men’s and the women’s programs. Junior Mark Driscoll (Milford, Mass.) also did not compete due to injury. Quinnipiac cross country certainly established itself as an up and coming dominant program at the Division I level. The men’s and women’s teams both have a core of solid runners, and one can expect the same record breaking results for the upcoming indoor track season.
