Somerset, NJ - Following successful seasons on the cross country course, Saint Francis (PA) and Quinnipiac have earned distinction as the 2011 Northeast Conference Men’s and Women’s Coaching Staffs of the Year, respectively.
On the women’s side, the staff at Quinnipiac led the Bobcats to an unprecedented seventh consecutive NEC Championship. Head coach Carolyn Martin and assistant Christopher Dickerson fielded All-Conference senior Morgan Roche (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who finished fifth at the league championship with a time of 19:02. Junior Andrea Szarkowicz (Watertown, CT/Watertown) and sophomore Brianna Faust (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) finished right behind Roche in sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Saint Francis staff, made up of Gordon Thomson and Patrick Gildea, coached the Red Flash to a second place finish at this year’s NEC Championship. Saint Francis was led by senior Chris Mills (Pikesville, MD/Western Tech), who finished sixth overall and earned All-Conference honors for his effort. Ryan Kennedy (New Kensington, PA/Kiski Area) also nabbed an All-NEC nod for his 13th place finish.