Providence Takes BIG EAST Women's Cross Country Title
Women's Results
MASON, Ohio – Providence raced to a 2015 BIG EAST Cross Country Championship team title, their second crown in three years and seventh overall, taking all three top spots. Friar junior Sarah Collins won the individual title with a 19:32.1 finish.
The BIG EAST Championships were held at the Golf Center at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, for the first time, a flat course primed for quick times.
Providence last won the team title in 2013. The Friars’ last individual title was won by Emily Sisson in the same year.
Collins’ teammate and classmate Lauren Mullins came in second at 19:47.4 and sophomore Katie Lembo clocked in with a third place time of 19:50.6.
The Friars’ scoring runners finished 1-2-3-6-14 for 26 points overall and an average time of 19:54. Georgetown, which won the men’s title, came in second with 54 points and Villanova placed third with 86 points.
Collins was injured and didn’t run last year. Villanova’s top finisher, Bella Burda, was the only freshman in the top 10, she finished fourth at 19:52.9. Georgetown senior Andrea Keklak rounded out the top five with a 19:58.3 finish time.
Collins, Mullins, Lembo, Burda and Keklak along with Providence’s Catarina Rocha, Georgetown’s Autumn Eastman and Haley Pierce, Villanova’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner and Marquette’s Brittney Feivor were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team for finishing in the top 10. All-BIG EAST Second Team honorees were: Audrey Belf (GU), Olivia Pratt (BU), Katherine Turner (BU), Brianna Ilarda (PC), Lauren Ogg (CU), Caroline Gosser (XU), Sarah Mezzei (XU), Madeline Britton (XU), Molly Keating (PC) and Emily Bushey (PC).
Following the meet, Providence was tabbed BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, led by Director of Track & Field Ray Treacy.
Team Results
1. Providence (26 points)
2. Georgetown (54)
3. Villanova (86)
4. Xavier (124)
5. Butler (136)
6. Marquette (149)
7. Creighton (167)
8. DePaul (234)
9. St. John’s (245)
10. Seton Hall (316)