Prior to next weekends America East Championships, the Cross Country team had one final tune up at the Central Connecticut State University Mini-Meet. The Women’s team gave its regular a rest, looking ahead to the championships next week.
The men’s came up with its strongest showing yet this season. Junior Alex Felce, from Stroud, England, was the first of 148 runners to cross the finish line, finishing the 5K course in a time of 14:44, five seconds faster than the second-place finisher from rival Providence. Junior Daire Birmingham, from Portmarnock, Ireland, finished twelve seconds behind Felce in fourth place with a time of 14:56.
Kurt Wende, a junior from Williamsville, New York, was the next highest finisher, crossing the line in 13th place. Also placing for Stony Brook was Freshman Daniel Sierra from Islip Terrace, N.Y. and sophomore Alex Varone from Providence, R.I., taking 24th and 26th. Their times were 15:48 and 15:50, respectively.
All in all, the men came in second overall with 68 points, finishing behind New Hampshire, who took first with total point score of 45.
With its top guns having the event off for the weekend, the women’s team faced a daunting task, but rose to the occasion and pulled off a tenth place finish, behind rivals Boston College, Providence, and UCONN. Leanne Skrabacz, a sophomore from West Seneca, N.Y., led the Seawolves, crossing 28th in a time of 11:52. Freshman Kathryn Ferry, hailing from Hampton, N.J., took 38th with a time of 12:06, sophomore Kristina Doyle, from Lockport, N.Y. crossed 52nd in a time of 12:21, sophomore Kellyann Moniz, from South Hamilton, Mass., finished 62nd with a time of 12:30 and sophomore Kristen Connolly, a local girl from Massapequa, N.Y., took 65th in a time of 12:36.
The event of the season takes place next Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland. The collegiate Cross-Country world will turn there eyes to this famed seaport where the Seawolves Women’s runners will be looking to defend their title against all America East opponents, while the Men will be looking to build on a strong finish this past week and win a title of their own.
