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#NECX Outstanding Performer Elizabeth Eberhardt (CCSU)
#NECX Outstanding Performer Elizabeth Eberhardt (CCSU)

Back-to-Back: Pioneers Claim Top Spot at #NECXC Championship

Central Connecticut's Elizabeth Eberhardt earns NEC Outstanding Performer Honors

11/1/2014

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New Britain, CT — The Sacred Heart women’s cross country team claimed back-to-back Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships Saturday, winning its second straight title thanks to five top 15 performances. Central Connecticut senior Elizabeth Eberhardt earned the individual title.

Under ominous clouds in New Britain, CT, the 2014 NEC Women’s Cross Country Championship beat the rain at Stanley Quarter Park, near the Campus of Central Connecticut State University. Runners from the conference’s 10 schools raced for ultimate bragging rights.

Sacred Heart scored 43 points, besting last year’s championship performance by one point. Seniors Emma Bolduc and Elizabeth Hutchins paced the Pioneers with third and fourth place finishes respectively. Sacred Heart rounded out it’s scoring with Shannon Hickey (11th), Tara Connely (12th) and Jennifer Hahne (13th).  The Pioneers averaged a 5K time of 18:01.82, just under 25 seconds ahead of the next team.

Bryant turned in a score of 73 points edging out Saint Francis U, which scored 76 points. Host Central Connecticut followed with 81 points and in the fifth spot was Mount St. Mary’s with 129 points.

Robert Morris finished sixth (152), followed by Wagner with 153. St. Francis Brooklyn took eighth (242) while Fairleigh Dickinson (269) and LIU Brooklyn (278) rounded out the 10 team field.

Eberhardt earned the individual title on her home course, and crossed the 5K finish line with a time of 17:27.57. The Thomaston, CT native joins Alasia Griebel (2011) and Stephanie Johnson (1998) as the third Blue Devil in program history to claim medalist honors. CCSU freshman Brittany Mendelson was the second Blue Devil to cross the finish, earning 14th place and All-NEC honors.

Saint Francis U nabbed two All-NEC selections, led by Kylie Jackson. Jackson was the second place finisher with a time of 17:30.85. Teammate Hannah Dorian joined Jackson in the top-10, with a ninth place finish. Dorian’s 18:04.45 was good enough to earn the newcomer NEC Freshman of the Year honors.

Bryant claimed two All-NEC spots, led by two-time honoree Martha Reynolds with a fifth place finish. Annmarie Tuxbury bettered last year’s finish, taking eighth place.

Mount St. Mary’s lone representative on the 14 member squad was Kristen Galligan. Galligan crossed the line in sixth place.
Wagner’s Loraine Brancale became the Seahawk All-Conference honoree since 2008, thanks to a seventh place performance. Robert Morris senior Marissa Polk joined Brancale in the top-10, as the Colonials, only representative.