SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2009) – The Men's cross country team finished second in a field of 12 teams at the St Joseph's Invitational Saturday. The Privateers were paced by four freshmen and a senior in the final tune-up before next weekend's Skyline Conference meet. Freshman Sam Rainard (Wheaton, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) led the way as he finished in fourth place, covering the hilly Sunken Meadow State Park 5-mile course in the impressive time of 29:39 (5:56 per mile). Freshmen Luke Milano (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) and Gabriel Rosa (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) also recorded top-10 finishes in the field of 91 runners. Freshman Matt Taraboletti, senior Vince Curcio, senior Gannon O'Brien (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City Christian), and sophomore Tom Moskowitz (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) completed the scoring for the Privateers.

 

"The men of Maritime ran an impressive race on a challenging course," commented men's coach Jim Driscoll. "The big three (Rainard, Milano, and Rosa) ran together and appear to be peaking at the right time. To have three runners in the top 10 of a talented field was a great accomplishment. Taraboletti is getting better every week and Curcio ran his best race of the year so far".

 

On the women's side, junior Laura Wasson (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Sacred Heart) was the top Skyline Conference runner as she finished fifth in the field of 94 runners. Sophomore Kristen Saporito (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) also ran well, finishing the 3.1 mile course in 29th place.  "Wasson is setting up to have a terrific conference meet on her home course next weekend", stated Driscoll.

 

Maritime is the host college for the Skyline Conference Championships, which will be held on the Privateers' home course at Van Cortlandt Park next Sunday, Nov. 1.

 

"I can't wait for next weekend", said Driscoll. "Our fantastic freshmen are just now figuring out the longer college race and appear to be running as well as they have all year. On the men's side, Farmingdale State is looking pretty tough, as are the defending champs, Saint Joe's. Those teams will be tough to beat, but I am confident we'll run our best race of the year and be in the hunt. On the women's side, St Joe's and Bard will battle it out, and Wasson will be near the front. I also look for a good race from our women's team."

 

The women's championship will start at noon and the men's race will start at 1 p.m.

St Joseph's Invitational (5 miles)
1.  Farmingdale State		38
2.  MARITIME		61
3.  St Joseph's		83
4.  Suffolk		88
5.  Purchase		187
6.  FDU Florham		193
7.  Kingsborough		197
8.  Centenary		222
9.  Queensborough		225
10.  Mt St Mary		229
11.  Old Westbury		304
12.  Monroe		316
Maritime Runners
4.  Rainard		29:39:00
8.  Milano		30:29:00
9.  Rosa		30:29:00
18.  Taraboletti		31:35:00
22.  Curcio		32:00:00
30.  O'Brien		32:45:00
34.  Moskowitz		33:10:00
35.  Regan		33:22:00
52.  Berntson		35:57:00
53.  Evans		36:05:00
57.  Efros		36:54:00
68.  Albrecht		39:22:00
91 finishers
Women (5000 meters)
5.   Wasson, Laura	22:58
29.  Saporito	25:23:00
58.  Wasson, Lisa	27:56:00
60.  Carela	28:17:00
94 finishers