Despite the unseasonably warm weather on Saturday, fall was in the air as harriers of all ages traversed the fast, flat and looping course around Bryant University. The 15th Annual Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial XC Races featured an open memorial run (and alumni race) followed by separate men’s and women’s collegiate races (all were a 5k).
First up was the memorial/alumni race, but since the real action was in the collegiate races we’ll take a look at those first.
The women’s race was absolutely dominate by the Providence College Friars. The Friars swept the top 5 spots and won with a perfect score of 15. Next up was Sacred Heart with a distant 75. Host Bryant was 5th with 140 points.
But back to the dominate performance from the Friars. They treated us to not one but two exciting finishes as the battle for both 1st and 3rd came down to the wire.
First Catarina Rocha just barely edged out Sarah Collins (both finished in 16:48):
Cat Rocha @FriarsXCTrack wins in a furious finish here at the @BryantXCTF #XC invitational. @FloTrack pic.twitter.com/Kx6njDe1Lk
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
Then Bri Ilarda (16:56) nipped Lauren Mullins (16:57) at the line:
Another couple of @FriarsXCTrack go 3-4, Friars take top 5. pic.twitter.com/CjptsEhanx
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
Annmarie Tuxbury of Bryant was the first non-PC finisher, coming in 6th in 17:39.
Annmarie Tuxbury @BryantXCTF 6th overall & 1st non-@FriarsXCTrack at the Nassaney Memorial XC race in 17:39. pic.twitter.com/iNv4D9cgjp
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
Rocha and Collins were both feeling good about this early season effort afterwards:
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In the men’s race, things were a little tighter but PC still managed to get the win. The Friars won with a low low score of 36 points, followed by Brown in 61 and then Boston University in 76.
Leader coming into the final lap, led by eventual winner Sean Ferguson @sacredheartuniv (14:50 for 5k). pic.twitter.com/ZOiwgK6dvS
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
It was Sean Ferguson of Sacred Heart winning a close one in 14:50. Right behind him was Julian Oakley (2nd, PC) and Will Sheeran (3rd, Brown), both in 14:51. Behind Sheeran came another PC guy (Hugh Armstrong) in 14:54. Host Bryant University finished in 7th, with their top guy being Milan Duka (15:46). Back to the memorial race, Jason Eddy won it in 16:59. Jason is a proud member of the Bryant College class of 2002 and even as he enters the twilight years he is still running quite well for his age. On Labor Day he picked up his record 5th win at the Acushnet Road Race, breaking a tie with his former teammate and current mentor Eric Narcisi for most wins there.
And @BryantXCTF alumni Jay Eddy wins the Nassaney Memorial XC 5k in 16:56! Jay also won in Acushnet on Labor Day. pic.twitter.com/yNFViTCDNJ
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
Jason wasn’t pushed, but he did have Adam Greenspan right behind him, in 17:38. Adam dabbled in Bryant life for a year or two before transferring out but was granted unofficial alumni status.
Melissa Lodge, a @BryantXCTF redshirt freshman wins Nassaney Memorial XC 5k in 17:35! pic.twitter.com/gfds2tKoTx
— Level Renner (@levelrenner) September 12, 2015
Melissa Lodge was the women’s champ, running a blazing 17:41 and placing 3rd overall. Melissa is actually attending Bryant currently but is a redshirt freshman. They can expect some good things from her in the future when she starts officially competing for the Bulldogs!
