Big East Conference

Villanova Women, Georgetown Men Capture Cross Country Titles

10/27/2018 2:59:06 PM

CARMEL, IND. – The Villanova women and the Georgetown men were repeat winners at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships presented by Jeep.  The Championships were held at the Northview Church Course in Carmel, Ind.  Villanova placed six runners among the top eight finishers.  Georgetown placed all five of its scoring runners among the top 11.  The Hoya men have won four league titles in a row.

The Villanova women, who are ranked eighth nationally, had the top two finishers.  Graduate transfer Caroline Alcorta won the 6K race in a time of 20:12.4.  Teammate Rachel McArthur was the runner-up with a time of 20:16.5.  Villanova won the team competition by a comfortable margin.  The Wildcats had only 21 points.  Georgetown was second with 73 points.  Providence finished a close third to the Hoyas with 76 points.  Host Butler finished fourth with 91 points.

Georgetown’s top finisher was junior Paige Hofstead, who took third place in a time of 20:33.0.  Providence was led by junior Abbey Wheeler, who took fourth in a time of 20:35.3.  Villanova’s Nicole Hutchinson was fifth in a time of 20:39.5 followed by teammates Taryn O’Neill (20:55.7), Lydia Olivere (20:59.5) and Ann Campbell (21:04.5).  Butler’s Josephine Thestrup was 10th (21:06.2).

In the men’s race, Georgetown’s depth prevailed over Villanova in the team competition.  The Wildcats had the individual winner, junior Casey Comber, and the third-place finisher, senior Andrew Marston.  Comber’s time over the 8K was 23:59.7 and Marston finished in 24:16.5.  Last year, Marston finished second and Comber was third.  Georgetown took second and fourth this year with senior Nick Wareham coming in as the runner-up in 24:08.7 and junior Jack Van Scoter taking fourth in 24:22.6.

Butler junior Euan Makepeace (24:29.4) and sophomore Barry Keane (24:42.0) finished fifth and sixth.  Georgetown had Matt Bouthillette seventh (24:47.6) and Christian Liddell eighth (24:51.6).  Marquette’s Daniel Pederson took ninth (24:55.5) and Villanova’s Charlie O’Donovan was 10th (24:58.5).

The Villanova women’s coaching staff, led by head coach Gina Procaccio, was named BIG EAST Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.  The Georgetown men’s coaching staff, led by head coach Brandon Bonsey, was selected BIG EAST Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

Women’s Individual Leaders

1. Caroline Alcorta, Villanova           20:12.4
2. Rachel McArthur, Villanova          20:16.5
3. Paige Hofstead, Georgetown       20:33.0
4. Abbey Wheeler, Providence         20:35.3
5. Nicole Hutchinson, Villanova        20:39.5
6. Taryn O’Neill, Villanova                 20:55.7
7. Lydia Olivere, Villanova                 20:59.5
8. Ann Campbell, Villanova               21:04.5
9. Josephine Thestrup, Butler           21:06.2
10. Margie Cullen, Georgetown          21:16.4

Women’s Team Leaders

1. Villanova             21
2. Georgetown        73
3. Providence          76
4. Butler                   91
5. Xavier                 118
6. Marquette           176
7. DePaul               232
8. Creighton           238
9. Seton Hall          251
10. St. John’s           261

Men’s Individual Leaders

1. Casey Comber, Villanova             23:59.7
2. Nick Wareham, Georgetown        24:08.7
3. Andrew Marston, Villanova           24:16.5
4. Jack Van Scoter, Georgetown      24:22.6
5. Euan Makepeace, Butler               24:29.4
6. Barry Keane, Butler                       24:42.0
7. Matt Bouthillette, Georgetown       24:47.6
8. Christian Liddell, Georgetown      24:51.6
9. Daniel Pederson, Marquette         24:55.5
10. Charlie O’Donovan, Villanova       24:58.5

Men’s Team Leaders

1. Georgetown          32
2. Villanova               45
3. Butler                    53
4. Marquette            117
5. Providence          117
6. Xavier                  169
7. DePaul                209
8. Creighton            236
9. Seton Hall           288