University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Top Eagles and Black Bears
September 26, 2006 | Field Hockey
Sept. 26, 2006
The Massachusetts cross country teams ran strong on their new course Saturday morning. In the rainy conditions the men defeated Maine and Boston College and the women placed third behind the Eagles and the Black Bears.
The Minutemen placed first, Maine followed in second, and Boston College placed last. The Minutemen had three runners in the top five. Sophomore Jessie Regnier finished first overall and set the course record with a time of 25:11:00.
With downpours before the women's race, the condition of the course worsened. At some points on the course the mud became very thick and it proved to be a challenge for the runners to keep their footing.
Nevertheless, the Minutemen were able to get their best runners to run their best race.
Behind Regnier, junior Nils Fischer finished fourth overall with a time of 25:32:00, freshman Nicolai Naranjo finished fifth overall (25:42:00), freshman Andrew McCann placed 10th (26:04:00), and one second behind McCann was junior Ryan Durkin (26:05:00).
"This was only our second meet, but I think this team is showing that we have a lot of depth," UMass coach Ken O'Brien said. "We have maybe 10 or 11 people who can find their way into the top five at some point in the season."
O'Brien was surprised that his top runners ran a great race. He also noted that for the team to be successful it will depend on how the fifth runner can place.
The depth showed for the Minutemen, as five freshmen placed in the top 20. With a good mix of young talent, and good leadership from Durkin and Fischer, the team is in good shape if it can avoid any injuries.
The Minutewomen ran strong but fell short of victory. Boston College placed first in the meet with 31 points, Maine placed second with 38 points, and UMass finished third with 58 points.
Junior Christina Derosa continued to impress by placing second overall (18:33:00). BC senior Jessica Flinn set the new course record with a time of 18:21:00.
The women ran in harsh conditions as it started down pouring five minutes before the race started and continued throughout the contest.
"I think the girls ran the best they could with the conditions. Christina Derosa ran extremely well today and gave a great effort," UMass coach Julie LaFreniere said.
Freshman Lauren Liuzzo ran well again, placing 10th overall, second on the team (19:27:00). Junior Amber Sayer usually runs with Liuzzo but she battled the flu all week and finished 18th with a time of 19:59:00.
"Amber Sayer has had a fever, it was very gusty," LaFreniere said. "If the race was any longer I don't think she would have faired well."
Senior Cuisle Kierans finished 11th (19:33:00), and her younger sister, freshman Ellis Kierans, placed 13th (19:38:00).
LaFreniere noted that the team has too big of a space between Derosa and the rest of the pack. Derosa finished second and the next highest UMass runners placed 10th and 11th in the meet.
The cross country teams will be on the road at the Meet of Champions in New York, N.Y., this Saturday.