Review 2000
One name will come to mind when people
reflect on the SJU women's cross country team
at the turn of the century. Christine Kane. The
only runner in school history to qualify for the
NCAA cross country championship three times.
She capped her brilliant career with a 57th place
finish at the NCAAs and led the Hawks to the
Atlantic 10 title.
Kane ran a 17:51 at the Duquesne Duels, only
her fourth sub 18:00 minute finish of her career,
to place first in the race and set the tone for the
rest of the season. Followed closely by senior Gabby Quezada, junior
Denise Fergus and freshman Karen Weber, the Hawks defeated St.
Francis, Duquesne, Pittsburgh, Robert Morris, Niagra and West Liberty
en toute to posting a 6-0 mark at the only dual meet of the season.
The strong top three of Kane, Quezada and Fergus would maintain tha
pace all season long. At the Spiked Shoe Invitational, Kane placed third
overall, helping lead the team to a fifth place finish out of 25 teams.
Even the flu could not slow down Kane. Running on empty, Kane raced
to 10th place (18:16) at William and Mary, followed twelve seconds later
by Quezada and shortly after by Fergus. The three helped the team to a
seventh place finish in the 11 team field. Two weeks later, Kane bettered
placed fifth out of nearly 250 runners at the prestigious Paul Short
Invitational. The team finished fifth in the 34-team field.
Even without Kane, who was racing at the pre-national meet in Ames,
Iowa, the Hawks demonstrated they would be a force to be reckoned
with by winning the Lafayette Invitational. Quezada, Fergua and
freshman Amy Manwaring all finished in the top 10. Kane, meanwhile
finished 95th at the pre-national.
Two weeks later, Kane defended her A-10 individual title and powered
the Hawk women to the team crown. She blistered the course, finishing
in a record time of 17:23. Seeded third entering the race, the Hawks
won the race for the first time since 1993. Kevin Quinn was tabbed as
the A-10's Coach of the Year for his efforts. Quezada joined Kane on the
all-Conference team.
Coming off their success at A-10s, SJU turned in another strong effort at
the NCAA District 2 meet. The Hawks placed sixth in the 25-team field,
while Kane finished sixth individually.
Kane concluded the year at the NCAA Championship in Ames, Iowa.
Battling the elements, she finished 57th overall with a time of 21:36, the
highest finish-ever for a Hawk woman.
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