Wheaton women harriers capture first NEWMAC Championship, Carr picks up first Coach-of-the-Year award

October 30, 2004

WATERFORD, CT- The Wheaton College women's cross country team captured its first-ever conference championship Saturday afternoon, as the Lyons edged Wellesley College in dramatic fashion to claim the 2004 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title at Harkness Memorial State Park. Hosted by the United States Coast Guard Academy, Wheaton tallied 56 total points to Wellesley's 57.

Placing in the top three in three of the four previous conference meets, the Lyons became the first institution other than Wellesley and MIT to win the meet since 1992. Head coach Paul Carr, who has been at the helm of the Wheaton cross country programs since 1999, earned his first NEWMAC Coach-of-the-Year award in his six seasons with the Lyons. On the men's side, Wheaton placed fourth in the seven-team field with 100 points. MIT was crowned team champion for the seventh straight year.

The women garnered an outstanding four NEWMAC All-Conference honors on the afternoon, as the Lyons saw four of their runners among the top nine finishers. Having all four runners cover the 5,000-meter course in 18:50 and under, Wheaton was led by senior Erin O'Brien (North Easton, MA/Oliver Ames) and junior Kendra Leith (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional). O'Brien took fourth overall with a time of 18:40, while Leith was right on her heels in fifth place at 18:41.

Senior Lindsay Whalen (Dedham, MA/Dedham) finished eighth in 18:47 and freshman Megan Brousseau (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) was ninth in 18:50. Sophomore Jennifer Ziello (Litchfield, CT/Litchfield) clinched the Wheaton victory by placing 30th overall with a personal-best time of 19:55. Also competing for the Lyons was senior Emily Doenges (Milford, CT/St. Joseph), junior Christina Langevin (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) and freshmen Jessie Buonaccorsi (Shutesbury, MA/Amherst Regional) and Mary Ostrander (San Diego, CA/Francis Parker).

On the men's side, senior All-America Stan Pyle (South Portland, ME/South Portland) led the way with a second-place finish. Last year's NEWMAC Runner of the Year, Pyle covered the 8,000-meter course in 25:54. Pyle helped give the Wheaton cross country programs a school-best fifth NEWMAC All-Conference honor in the same season. The Lyons had three runners place in the top 20, including Pyle, junior Eric Richardson (East Walpole, MA/Bishop Feehan) and freshman Alex Cook (Hanover, MA/Hanover). Richardson placed 17th overall in 27:24, while Cook was the 19th runner to cross the line in 27:25.

Senior Joe Chadwick (Shelburne Falls, MA/Mohawk Trail Regional), junior Ben Haber (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) and sophomore Matt Peirce (Lincoln, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) rounded out Wheaton's field of competitors, finishing 37th, 45th and 53rd, respectively.

Men's Team Results: (1) MIT 23, (2) Coast Guard 52, (3) Springfield 87, (4) Wheaton 100, (5) WPI 129, (6) Babson 166, (7) Clark 198

Wheaton Individual Results: (2) Stan Pyle 25:54, (17) Eric Richardson 27:24, (19) Alex Cook 27:25, (37) Joe Chadwick 28:04, (45) Ben Haber 28:19, (53) Matt Peirce 28:35

Women's Team Results: (1) Wheaton 56, (2) Wellesley 57, (3) MIT 80, (4) Coast Guard 83, (5) Smith 121, (6) Springfield 147, (7) Mount Holyoke 188, (8) Babson 207, (9) Clark 269, (9) WPI 269

Wheaton Individual Results: (4) Erin O'Brien 18:40, (5) Kendra Leith 18:41, (8) Lindsay Whalen 18:47, (9) Megan Brousseau 18:50, (30) Jennifer Ziello 19:55, (68) Emily Doenges 20:49, (93) Jessie Buonaccorsi 21:35, (104) Christina Langevin 21:51, (116) Mary Ostrander 22:19

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