July 5, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's University women's cross country squad had a number of solid team finishes and individual results during the 2006 season. Coach Kevin Quinn and the Hawks sought to cultivate a crop of young runners to build a foundation for future success while also being competitive in every event. SJU did just that, placing in the top 10 in four of five meets, including a seventh-place result at the Atlantic 10 Championships.

SJU kicked off the season at the Haverford Time Trial Meet. The Hawks were led by sophomore Juli Stensland, who placed seventh with a time of 20:03.26. Behind Stensland was senior Erin Kelly, who finished in 17th place with a 20:46.89. Sophomore Katie Pencek was also in the top 30, clocking a 22:10.97 for 29th place.

The Hawks next took to the course at the Lock Haven Invitational two weeks later. Senior team captain Suzie McHenry led the squad to an eighth-place finish with her 22:07.53 in the 6K, good for 14th place individually. Sophomore Andrea Florida placed 28th in her first action of the season, and seniors Renee Spangler and Rebecca Powell took 66th and 75th, respectively.

At the Iona Meet of Champions, McHenry and Florida led the way once again, as the Hawks placed eighth out of 18 teams in attendance. McHenry finished 29th with a time of 22:29.10, while Florida turned in a 22:38.30 to place 34th. Spangler and sophomore Amy Rhein came in 63rd and 65th, respectively.

From there it was on to Lafayette for the Hawks. SJU placed fifth of 13 in the team competition, powered by the top-10 finishes of Florida and McHenry. Florida's 21:07.00 gave her ninth place out of 134. McHenry was next across the line, finishing in 10th at 21:10.20. Spangler (30th), Rhein (39th), and Powell (41st) were also in the top 50 in the final tune-up before the conference championships.

Two weeks later the Hawks headed west to Pittsburgh, Pa. for the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships. SJU took seventh place in the 14-team field. Florida earned All-Conference honors for the second straight year, placing 13th in the 5K race with a time of 18:32.60. McHenry just missed the All-Conference team, clocking an 18:52.00 and placing 21st. Spangler, Rhein, and Stensland also scored for the Hawks, placing 30th, 43rd, and 68th, respectively.

The final team competition for the Hawks came at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. SJU placed 13th out of 28 teams at the meet, held in Lock Haven, Pa. Florida led the Hawks, finishing 47th in the field of 195. Seniors McHenry (70th), Spangler (83rd), and Powell (137th) were next across the line for Saint Joseph's. One week later, SJU sent four runners to the ECAC Championships. Florida's 18:38.30 earned her 22nd place, while Rhein (70th), Stensland (90th), and senior Maddie Bell (98th) also ran for the Hawks.

All told, the Saint Joseph's women's cross country team turned in a number of positive results in both the team and individual sense. The squad has a number of building blocks for the future, and the Hawks will look to remain in the top half of the Atlantic 10 in the coming years.