New England cross country champ Roisin McGettigan (Providence College) leads bronze medalist Erin Silvering mid-race at the 2001 championships. McGettigan's win spurred her Friar teammates on to the team title.
(photo courtesy prettysporty.com)

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.