BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. (Sept. 13, 2010) – The Men's and Women's cross country teams opened their season this past weekend with strong showings at the Travis Fuller Invitational in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts.  The men's team finished in fourth place in the eight team field while the women captured sixth out of 12 teams.  Both teams finished higher than their rivals from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  The meet is named after a former Massachusetts Maritime runner and Marine Corps officer who was killed in Iraq in 2005.

 

The men's team was led by sophomore Luke Milano (Wantagh, N.Y., Wantagh) who finished the 5 mile course in a time of 27:12.  Milano finished in 6th place in the field of 87 runners, averaging 5:27 per mile.  Milano was followed by sophomores Gabriel Rosa (Wilkes-Barre, Pa., G.A.R. Memorial), Sam Rainard (Wheaton, Md., Our Lady of Good Counsel), and Pat Evans (Saint James, N.Y., Smithtown East), and freshman Cory O'Farrell (Red Hook, N.Y., Red Hook).  Freshman Frank Morgera (West Nyack, N.Y., Clarkstown South), junior Thomas Moskowitz (Massapequa, N.Y., Massapequa), and sophomore Matthew Taraboletti (Titusville, Fla., Astronaut) also broke 30 minutes for the 5 mile course.

 

“I was very pleased with our effort today”, stated head coach Jim Driscoll.  “The times for the 5 mile course were blazing.  I know the course was flat and the weather conditions were perfect, but I doubt Maritime has ever had 8 runners run under 30 minutes and to do it the first meet of the year bodes very well for our team.  Milano and Evans, in particular, ran very well, as did our two freshmen running in their first collegiate race.  Evans and Moskowitz both broke 30 minutes for the first time in their careers.”

 

On the women's side, freshman Jackie Bellisari (Albertson, N.Y., Holy Trinity) led the way with a 6th place finish in the field of 101 runners and a time of 19:50 over the 3.1 mile course.  Bellisari was followed by juniors Emily Motz (Amelia, Ohio) and Catherine Brady (Holbrook, NY, Sachem North), junior Alexandra Carela (Paterson, N.J., Wayne) and senior Danielle Roberts (Candor, N.Y., Candor).

 

“The women's team was terrific”, stated Driscoll.  “Bellisari proved she is one of the best runners in the conference and Motz and Brady also ran well.  The women should be in the upper half of the conference and I am excited to see what they can do this year.”

 

Both the men's and women's teams return to the course next Sunday when they compete in the Queensborough Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park.  The women's race will start at 1000, with the Men running at 1100.   

 

Travis Fuller Invitational Men (5 miles)

1.  Emmanuel College   31

2.  Emerson College      66

3.  USMMA                  67

4.  Maritime College                 90

5.  Mass Maritime          107

6.  UMASS Boston        180

7.  Suffolk                     207

8.  Mount Ida                 209        

 

Maritime Runners

6.    Milano                    27:12

17.  Rosa                      28:07

18.  Rainard                  28:15

22.  Evans                    28:32

28.  O'Farrell                 29:06

34.  Morgera                 29:36

35.  Moskowitz              29:44

38.  Taraboletti              29:51

54.  Efros                     32:20

67.  Regan                    34:17

69.  Berntson                34:49

70.  Albrecht                 34:50

82.  First                       39:43

87 Finishers

 

Women (5000 meters)

1.  Emmanuel                40

2.  Emerson                 62

3.  USMMA                   107

4.  Mount Ida                 128

5.  Framingham State   144

6.  Maritime College     147

7.  Suffolk                    222

8.  Mass Maritime          225        

9.  Newbury                   232

10.  Curry                      252

11.  Rivier                     259

12. Eastern Nazarene     276

 

Maritime Runners

6.    Bellisari                  19:50

20.  Motz                      21:02

35.  Brady                     22:08

58.  Carela                    23:40

60.  Roberts                  23:45

101 Finishers     

 

 

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If you would like to receive the most up-to-date news and information about the Maritime cross country team, including all press releases, please send an e-mail to Joe Guster at jguster@sunymaritime.edu with the subject “Cross Country E-mails.”

 

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