SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - University of New England captured the team championship today at the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships that were held on Western New England's campus.
Roger Williams sophomore Hannah Zydanowicz bested the entire field to earn runner of the year honors with a 6K time of 22:36. Zydanowicz also earned the rookie of the year award, as this is her first year of racing as a college student-athlete.
All-CCC recognition was given to the top-10 finishers, while Runner of the Year honors is awarded to the top finisher, and Rookie of the Year to the top "freshman" runner.
Salve Regina freshman Aubrey Palmquist finished behind Zydanowicz with a time of 23:19 to place second, while Hawk junior teammate Ema Waldschmidt finished just one tick behind at 23:20.
University of New England freshman Michaela Moran finished fourth (23:37), while two of her teammates, junior Colleen Ahern and sophomore Annelise Donahue took fifth and sixth with times of 23:46 and 23:51, respectively.
Rounding out the top-10 CCC Championship Runners for All-CCC recognition were Eastern Nazarene senior Ami Curtis (23:52), University of New England sophomore Natalie Hardman (23:53), Salve Regina freshman Joelle Ross (23:59), and Gordon freshman Leanna Beedle (24:08).
Salve Regina and University of New England earned the conference's team sportsmanship award while the coach of the year honor went to UNE head coach Ron Ouellette.
The senior scholar-athlete award went to Katie Hakanson-Stacy from Gordon. Hakanson-Stacy is a secondary education major who holds a 4.0 grade point average.
The Colonels were led by freshman Leigha Sweeney (Braintree, Mass.) who finished in 54th place with a time of 27:05. Other Curry finishers were sophomore Jessica Leary (Pembroke, Mass.), 28:07 (67th), sophomore Victoria Norton (Pembroke, Mass.), 35:21 (100th), freshman Megan Erickson (Westbrook, Conn.), 35:28 (101th), and junior co-captains Jacquelyn Young (Randolph, Mass.), 41:45 (107th) and Kelly Ethier (Merrimack, N.H.), 41:58 (108th).
The CCC Championship concludes the cross country season. (Race Recap Courtesy of Western New England Sports Information)
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