Oct. 31, 2008
BRONX, N.Y. – The Notre Dame men’s cross country team finished second, while the women’s squad finished sixth at the 2008 BIG EAST Championships Friday at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y.
Senior Patrick Smyth led the men’s team with a second-place finish in a time of 23:58. The two-time cross country All-American earned his fourth all-BIG EAST honor.
Junior Jake Walker earned his first all-BIG EAST honor with a 13th-place finish in 24:58 and freshman Joe Miller garnered all-conference accolades with a 14th-place showing and a time of 25:00.
Sophomores Paul Springer and Dan Jackson finished 17th and 18th, respectively, with a times of 25:07 and 25:08. Sophomore Ryan Jacobs was 29th in 25:29, while senior Dan Clark was 35th with a time of 25:38. Senior Kevin Veselik ran a time of 25:50 to finish 42nd, and freshman Jordan Carlson was 45th in 25:51.
Notre Dame finished second with 64 points, behind Georgetown with 35. Villanova, Providence and Syracuse rounded out the top five.
Georgetown’s Andrew Bumbalough was the top individual finisher with a time of 23:55.
Junior Lindsey Ferguson paced the women’s squad, earning her second all-BIG EAST honor with a 13th-place finish and a time of 20:58.
Sophomore Marissa Treece finished 20th in 21:16, and freshman Rachel Velarde was 34th with a time of 21:36. Sophomore Abby Higgins finished 39th in 21:43, and senior Heidi Rocha ran a time of 21:52 to finish 43rd.
Junior Beth Tacl and senior Becca Bauman finished 44th and 45th, respectively, with times of 21:55 and 21:59. Sophomore Theresa Cattuna finished 50th with a time of 22:06, and senior Emily Wauford was 60th in 22:19.
Villanova took the top team spot, finishing with 40 points. West Virginia was second with 48 points and Georgetown was third with 74. Providence and Syracuse rounded out the top five. Notre Dame finished sixth with 149 points.
Both Irish squads will compete at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Nov. 15 at West Lafayette, Ind.