New England cross country champ Roisin McGettigan (Providence College) leads bronze medalist Erin Silvering mid-race at the 2001 championships.
(photo courtesy prettysporty.com)

Cross Country
Boston College's Maria Cicero led the Eagles to their first New England Women's team crown in 16 years at the October 11 New England Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships at Boston's Franklin Park. Five-hundred and twelve athletes from 45 colleges and universities from throughout the region vied for the New England championship on a cool, damp day.

In her seasonal debut Cicero, the 2002 USA Junior Cross Country Champion, pulled away from teammate Julie Spolidoro over during the "wilderness" section of Boston's oft-run Franklin Park course to win in a swift 17-minutes, 7-seconds; although the day was damp, the footing was firm over most of the course. Spolidoro narrowly held on to edge NCAA Division III start Mary Proulx from Keene State as both were timed in 17:11. William's Caroline Cretti battled for much of the race with Proulx, but was unable to match the Keene State star over the final 600-meters and claimed 4th in 17:18.

Cicero and Spolidoro's 1-2 finish helped 6th-ranked Boston College claim their first New England crown since 1986. Jennifer Donovan (5th, 17:35), Laurel Burdick (21st, 18:11), and Laura Smith (42nd, 18:37) rounded out the scorers for the Eagles as they totaled 70 points.

Williams College, the top ranked squad in Division III, claimed second with 97 points, clearly ahead of Brown University's 115-point total in 3rd. Forty-two teams scored in the championship race.

Brown University's Caci Cambruzzi won the College race in 18:40, leading a 1-2-3 sweep by her teammates over the 230-athlete field.

Indoor Track

Northeastern University downed defending champion University of Connecticut 140 to 116.50 points to win the 24th Annual New England Women's Intercollegiate Indoor Track Championships, which were contested February 28 - March 1, 2003 at Smith College's Indoor Track and Tennis Facility.

Behind Northeastern and UConn, Division III power Wheaton (62.50) claimed third, while University of New Hampshire (58) and University of Rhode Island (57) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

NU was led with individual titles by Jordine Kimbrel (24.70 200m), Ahndraea Allen (55.78 400m), Joane Merlain (2:16.28 800m), Janel Kozlowski (5-7 HJ), and Zara Northover (50-8 SP).

In a weekend that saw athletes shatter 13 facilty records, Maine's Viktoriya Rybalko leaped to a New England Championships record of 20-2.25 in the long jump, Wheaton set a new meet standard in the 4x400m with a swift 3:46.58 clocking, and New Hampshire lowered the DMR meet record to 11:49.75.

Outdoor Track

The University of Maine edged the host University of New Hampshire at 2003 New England Women's Intercollegiate Outdoor Track Championships, contested May 9-10 at the University of New Hampshire. Maine outscored New Hampshire 78.5 to 77 points.

Maine's Vika Rybalka shattered the meet record in the long jump to lead her teammates to victory. Rybalka soared 20-10.75 to add almost a foot onto the previous meet record. Other winners for Maine include Claire Poliquin in the high jump at 5-5 and the 4x800 relay in 9:13.74.

UMass's Brandy Green also established a new meet standard in the pole vault, clearing 12-3.50 while Central Connecticut's Jessica Kelly's windy 11.82 surpassed the record (11.84) in the 100m.