The Rhode Island College men’s cross country team recorded an 8th place finish and finished in the top ten in their third consecutive race on Saturday, Oct. 8th at the James Early Invitational which was hosted by Westfield State. Junior Conor McCloskey set the pace for the Anchormen in the 8k race as he finished in 11th place with a time of 26:47.
Coast Guard, with three top 10 finishers, ran away with the total team victory at the meet and the Greater Boston Track Club walked away with a second place finish. Salem State University senior Alex Gomes finished first overall as an individual at the event with a time of 25:43.
Freshman Ian LaPlume was the next finisher for the Anchormen as he ended up in 58th with a time of 28:16. Placing in 72nd was junior Shawn Stadnick who had a time of 28:35. Rounding out the RIC contingent was sophomore Tom DeCristofaro with a time of 29:59 (134th) and junior Austin Pena with a time of 30:18 (152nd).
For the Anchorwomen, sophomore Alyssa O’Connor lead the way with a time of 19:58, good for 29th place in the 5k event. Winning the individual title was Bridgewater State senior Molly Rouillard who ran the race in a time of 18:45. Coast Guard Academy won the total team title at the meet while Westfield State finished second.
The next runner to cross the finish line for the Anchorwomen was sophomore Jacqueline Hurteau, who finished in 77th and ran a time of 21:00. Sophomore Chelsea Marshall followed with an 88th place finish and 21:17 as her time. Finishing in 110th was freshman Kayla Cataldo with a time of 21:34 and junior Allyson Bejma had a place of 163rd with a 22:32 time.
Rounding out the RIC runners were senior Brittany Richer with a time of 23:07 which was good for 184th place and freshman Cameron Osteen who placed 237th with a time of 24:16.
The Anchormen and Anchorwomen will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Eastern Connecticut State University.
