Manhattan College Invitational - Girls Varsity Race Summaries:
Race “A”: Leah Triller (second, 15:43) led an impressive win by the Academy of the Holy Names (44 points). Triller was followed by Jacqueline Willsey (fourth, 15:58) and Kaylee Scott (seventh, 16:02.2), as the Albany, N.Y. school defeated Colonie, N.Y. (109 points) and North Rockland, N.Y. (126 points).
Tara Hanley of Chatham, N.J. was the overall winner in 15:33.9.
Race “B”: Meghan McGovern of North Penn (Pa.) spearheaded an impressive North Penn win with her 14:47.8 finish. Rachel Brown followed in third in 15:48.7 as North Penn collected 70 points to defeat Niskayuna (N.Y.) (86 points) and Lowell (Ma.)(134 points).
Race “C”: Liverpool (N.Y.) put its top five runners across within 49 seconds of each other to collect 114 points for the win. Katlyn McNamara (ninth, 16:35.7) and Caroline Dieffenderfer (12th, 16:43.5) led the way.
Baldwinsville (N.Y.) followed Liverpool with 142 points, and then Cornwall (N.Y.) with 186 points).
Talia Guevara and Tiana Guevara, a pair of sisters from Miller Place (N.Y.), finished first and second, 15:29.9 and 15:48.8 respectively.
Race “D”: Pearl River (N.Y.) took the third, fifth, and eighth spots to secure the win with 78 points. Sophomore Kelly Hayes (15:41.0) and senior Ceili McMorrow (15:58.6) led the way as Pearl River defeated Shaker (N.Y.)(112 points) and St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) (127 points).
“We were running without one of our top runners, Maria Kohlbrenner,” said Pearl River coach Dan Doherty. “It shows that when someone is out that the other girls can step up and get it done.”
Junior Colette Richter of Mountain Lakes (N.J.) won the race in 15:16.6.
St. Anthony’s coach Dee Hopkins was pleased with her team’s cohesion.
“We’re learning to pack run,” said Hopkins. “We’re starting to actually do it.”
Race “E”: Mary Cain’s 14:31.1 winner led Bronxville (N.Y.)(53 points) to a win over Suffern (101 points) and Nanuet (135 points) in one of the fastest varsity girls’ races.
“I’ve had races this year where I’ve felt like I’ve had a little bit left,” said Cain, a sophomore. “Today I just wanted to go as hard as I could.”
Senior Caroline Kellner of West Windsor-Plainsboro South (N.J.) finished in second in 15:04.1 and Ursula Svoboda of Suffern finished in third in 15:10.5.
Junior Meredith Rizzo finished in fourth (15:24.5) for Bronxville, which had a team average of 15:56.
“The big races are still in November,” said Bronxville coach Jim Mitchell. “You’ve got to keep them hungry.”
Race “F”: Rumson-Fair Haven coach Tim McLoone brought his team up from the Jersey Shore so that they could experience the manic energy and high-level competition of this meet at historic Van Cortlandt Park.
“I wanted to make sure they experienced this before they graduated,” said McLoone, who ran on the course while at Seton Hall Prep. “I think it’s important for them to see this, and that there are other schools than the Shore Conference.”
Rumson-Fair Haven made co-coaches McLoone and Henry Mercer proud, as junior Rachel Christ finished in first (15:09.4) to lead the team to the victory with 72 points.
“We’re just trying to teach the girls to be aggressive in the beginning and to push ourselves in the races,” said McLoone. “I think that’s how you become great.”
R.F.H. held off Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.)(94 points) and Mount Saint Dominic Academy (N.J.)(121 points) for the win.