Posted: Nov 01, 2014

Women's Cross Country Second at NECC Championship

WESTFIELD, Mass. - The Elms College women's cross country squad finshed just six points off of first-place, taking second at the 2014 New England Collegiate Conference Championship, hosted at Stanley Park.

Freshman Sarah Tatgenhorst (Winterport, Maine) earned the NECC Rookie of the Year award with a third-place finish at the Championship, posting a time of 20:38, the top finish among rookies competing in the event. Senior Rachel Lehouillier (Belchertown, Mass.) recorded a top-10 finish, taking ninth with a time of 22:04, while junior Emma Bernard (Springfield, Mass.) was two spots back in 11th (22:20.76). Freshman Sarah Kaczenski (Northfield, Mass.) finished in 15th-place with a time of 22:51.21, freshman Caitlin Hoschtetler (South Hadley, Mass.) was 17th with 23:11 and senior Diana Borys (Oakville, Conn.) was 19th with a time of 23:19. Senior Shirley Ryan (Brimfield, Mass.) was 24th (23:44), junior Jacqueline Quetti (Pittsfield, Mass.) took 33rd (24:35), and senior Emily Taylor (Tolland, Mass.) was 57th (30:28) to round out the Blazers runners.

With their finishes, Tatgenhorst and Lehouillier earned spots on the NECC First Team All-Conference, and NECC Second Team All-Conference, respectively.

Lesley University won the event with a team score of 49 points, followed by Elms (55), Regis (78), Wheelock (88), Southern Vermont (102), Mitchell (167), Bay Path (191), and Newbury (222).

The Blazers will return to action at the 2014 ECAC Division III New England Championship on November 8th.

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year
Shelby Whitman, Southern Vermont College

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country Rookie Runner of the Year
Sarah Tatgenhorst, Elms College

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year
Jonathan Alizio, Lesley University

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country Team Sportsmanship Award
Southern Vermont College

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country First Team All-Conference
Shelby Whitman, Southern Vermont College
Siobhan McLaughlin, Regis College
Sarah Tatgenhorst, Elms College
Emilia McGrath, Lesley University
Alex Dimauro, Lesley University

2014 NECC Women's Cross Country Second Team All-Conference
Torri Plank, Wheelock College
Schyler McGuire, Southern Vermont College
Sarah Backholm, Regis College
Rachel Lehouillier, Elms College
Arianna Thomas, Lesley University