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Loretto, PA — It has been eight years since the Sacred Heart women's cross country team has held the #NECXC Championship trophy, but Saturday the Pioneers hoisted the trophy for the first time on their own. Led by senior Brianna Castrogivanni in second place, Sacred Heart claimed the 2013 Northeast Conference Championship.
Nestled in the hills of central Pennsylvania, the Immergrun Golf Club on the campus of Saint Francis U played host to the NEC Cross Country Championships. While the course was picturesque on a perfect autumn day, many fell victum to the daunting steep and never ending hills.
Navigating the 5K course with ease was two-time NEC champion Eimear Black. The Bryant senior crossed the finish line in 17:46, breaking the course record time of 18:34 Black set earlier this season.
Minutes later, the finish line mirrored a triage area. The runners fought pure exhaustion battling the up-hill slope to the finish line. Included in the second wave of finishers was freshman Jennifer Hahne. A mere 10-yards from the finish line, the newcomer collapsed and struggled to regain her footing. The Pioneers were seconds away from sole possession of the NEC title, but Hahne needed to finish the race. Hahne eventually thrust herself across the finish line 36th, giving Sacred heart vital points to oust Bryant.
Sacred Heart took first place with 44 points, edging out Bryant who turned in 53 points. The Bulldogs managed an faster average time of 19:41, but the Pioneers placed higher in the meet, to edge Bryant by nine points.
In the battle for fourth place, Mount. St. Mary's snuck by Robert Morris, recording 104 points, while the Colonials scored 108. Taking the fifth spot was St. Francis U (128) followed by Central Connecticut (133) and Wagner (160). Fairleigh Dickinson (187) and St. Francis Brooklyn (218) rounded out the nine team field.
Sacred Heart nabbed four All-Conference selections. Castrogivanni, Elizabelth Hutchings and Emma Bolduc finished top-10, while Shannon Hickey finished 11th. Bryant earned three spots, led by Black, Martha Reynolds and Annmarie Tuxbury.
Mount St. Mary's junior Kristen Galligan finished fifth in the meet, followed by veteran Stephanie Borland in seventh. Robert Morris was represented by Marissa Polk and Lindsay Erath.
The NEC Freshman of the year, Emily McNeil placed 17th, with a time of 20:32
2013 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Team
1 Eimear Black Sr. 17:46 5:44 Bryant
2 Brianna Castrogivanni Sr. 18:50 6:04 SHU
3 Elizabeth Hutchins Sr. 19:05 6:09 SHU
4 Martha Reynolds Jr. 19:17 6:13 Bryant
5 Kristen Galligan Jr. 19:29 6:17 Mount
6 Kylie Jackson Jr. 19:30 6:17 SFU
7 Stephanie Borland Sr. 19:39 6:20 MSM
8 Emma Bolduc Jr. 19:48 6:23 SHU
9 Annmarie Tuxbury So. 19:53 6:25 Bryant
10 Marissa Polk Jr. 19:58 6:26 RMU
11 Shannon Hickey So. 20:00 6:27 SHU
12 Shannon McBride Jr. 20:05 6:28 CCSU
13 Lindsay Erath Sr. 20:10 6:30 RMU
14 Inelsi Diaz Jr. 20:17 6:33 SFBK
Outstanding Performer: Eimear Black, Bryant
NEC Freshman of the Year: Emily McNeil, Bryant