October 27, 1998
BIG EAST Championships: Both the men’s and women’s cross-country squads will travel to Franklin Park in Boston, Massachusetts, site of the 1998 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 30. The men play the role of defending champion as the women hope to dethrone reigning champ Providence. The men’s race marks the 20th running of the league’s first championship as 12 of last year’s top 15 individual performers return to compete. Unbeaten junior All-American JoAnna Deeter faces her toughest competition yet, as the women squads at Providence, Georgetown, and Villanova each boast top 10 national rankings. The men’s 8,000 meter event begins at 11:30 a.m. while the women’s 5,000 meter event is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start.
Notre Dame BIG EAST men’s team – Antonio Arce, Patrick Conway, John Dudley, Mike Dreznes, Tim Engelhardt, Mike Griewe, Ryan Maxwell, Sean McManus, Ryan Shay, Joe Soviero, Marc Striowski and Luke Watson.
Notre Dame BIG EAST women’s squad – JoAnna Deeter, Alison Klemmer, Nicole LaSelle, Erin Luby, Bridget O’Brien, Erin Olson, Jennifer Pavela, Patti Rice, Valerie Siqueria and Anna Yates.
Central Collegiates Recap: The Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross-country teams finished sixth and eighth respectively in the Central Collegiate Cross Country Championships at Western Michigan University on October 16. Junior John Dudley (Westwood, Mass.) led all Irish runners at the Central Collegiates with an 18th-place finish and a time of 25:47.31. Central Michigan dominated the event and captured a first place finish overall to outdistance second place Kent State by 74 points. Central Michigan senior Richie Brinker won the men’s race with a time of 24:39.15.
The Notre Dame men’s squad placed six runners including Dudley in the top 50. Junior Mike Griewe (Tampa, Fla.) finished second for the Irish and 22nd overall, with a time of 25:54.95. Three spots behind Griewe was sophomore Joe Soviero (Bayville, NY), while freshman Patrick Conway (Springfield, Va.) and senior Mike Dreznes (Oak Forest, Ill.) rounded out the top five for the Irish with times of 26:28.06 and 26:34.75, respectively.
On the women’s side, sophomore Jennifer Pavela (LaCrosse, Wis.) set the pace for the Irish with a time of 18:49.59 and a 20th-place finish. Ohio University controlled the race, however, with a first-place finish to beat second place Eastern Michigan by 16 points. Bearcat runner Jackie Conrad finished first with a time of 17:12.00.
The Notre Dame women’s squad placed four in the top 40 besides Pavela. Freshman Kristen Wunder (Cicero, Ind.) finished second among Irish harriers and 36th overall. Immediately following in 38th place with a time of 19:17.17 was sophomore Chrissy Kuenster (Wheaton, Ill.). In fourth among Irish women was freshman Diana Percival (Boise, Idaho), who finished 40th overall with a time of 19:19.26.
Wolverine Interregional Recap: At the Michigan Interregional on Sunday, October 18, junior JoAnna Deeter (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) captured first place overall with a time of 17:37, five seconds faster than second-place finisher Janelle Kent of Wake Forest. This marks her fourth championship in as many tries this season. Four other Irish women placed in the top fifty to lift the team to an eighth-place finish. Second among Irish runners was junior Patti Rice (Mishawaka, Ind.), who finished with a time of 18:50 and 37th place overall. Junior Alison Klemmer (Troy, Mich.) and sophomore Erin Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) rounded out the top four with times of 19:00 and 19:02. Junior Nicole LaSelle (Dayton, Ohio) competed in her first race of the season and posted a time of 19:13.
Women’s Rankings
As of Oct. 20, 1998
1. Brigham Young
2. Stanford
3. Michigan
4. Providence
5. Arkansas
6. Arizona
7. Georgetown
8. Wisconsin
9. Wake Forest
10. Villanova
Men’s Rankings
As of Oct. 20, 1998
1. Stanford
2. Arkansas
3. Oregon
4. Colorado
5. Arizona
6. NC State
7. Michigan
8. Providence
8. Oklahoma St.
10. Michigan St.
21. NOTRE DAME