By Kate Joseph
Staff Writer
Simmons Cross Country finished third at the 2013 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine.
“I’m very proud of how the women ran at GNACs,” said Coach Brian Cunningham. “From an experience level, this is a very young team. We’ve had setbacks, injuries, sickness. To finish third in the team competition, only three points from second place, was a huge step forward.”
One-hundred-fourteen runners from 12 schools competed in the women’s race in the 5K event.
Coming out just ahead of the Sharks were Emmanuel College in first place with 48 points and St. Joseph’s with 66 in second.
St. Joseph’s junior Amber Dostie won the conference race for the third consecutive year, the first woman to ever do so, with a time of 20:32.
Simmons totaled 69 points with Shelly Potter leading the Sharks and finishing ninth overall. Potter also made the 2013 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Team.
Ellen Giroud followed close behind at 11th place, while Bre Glynn and Sara Harland took 13th and 14th place respectively.
Norwich University followed behind Simmons, finishing fourth with 104 points. Johnson and Wales University finished in fifth place with 108 points.
Rounding out the race were Lasell College, Rivier University, Anna Maria College, University of Saint Joseph, Mount Ida College, Albertus Magnus College, and Suffolk University, who featured runners but did not place.
This race wraps up Simmons Cross Country for the season.
“The team worked hard all season; they did everything I asked” said Cunningham. “Watching them work together, compete, and place so well in the culminating race of the season…again, I’m a very proud coach.”
