Cross Country qualifies for NCAA Regional Championships

The Pitt men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the Big East Championships at… The Pitt men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the Big East Championships at Van Cortland Park in New York on Friday and, despite not living up to coach Waddie Freeman’s expectations, both teams qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships. Even though there were a few excellent individual accomplishments, Freeman was disappointed with his team’s overall performance.

“We didn’t have a particularly good meet,” Freeman said.

Pitt men finish eighth of 12 teams

Led by freshman Eric Fleming’s 34th-place effort in the 8,000-meter race, the Panthers finished in eighth place at the Big East Championships.

“[It’s] definitely an improvement for the men’s team over last year’s performance,” Freeman said. “Eric Fleming had a good race.”

Georgetown, powered by junior Rod Koborsi’s 24:38 showing, edged Notre Dame to win the Big East title.

Also placing for Pitt were freshman Andy Tomaswick in 54th place, juniors Nick Westerman and Clinton Kotuby in 60th and 61st, respectively, and freshmen Michael Long in 66th place.

“Our number two through five runners didn’t have a good meet,” Freeman said.

Despite the men’s team’s eighth-place finish, the Panthers did qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships at Lock Haven in two weeks.

“Our team goal at the regional is to finish in the top third of our region,” Freeman said. “[The men’s team] did okay [at the Big East Championships], but this will definitely prepare us for the regional championships.”

Pitt women finish ninth out of 14 teams

Despite Maureen McCandless’ second-place finish in her return from a knee injury, the Panthers struggled in taking ninth place at the Big East Championships.

“Maureen did okay,” Freeman said. “She hadn’t competed in over a month.”

Notre Dame, led by sophomore Molly Huddle’s 20:47 effort in the 6,000-meter race, scraped by Providence College to capture its second consecutive Big East crown.

Also placing for Pitt was junior Lauren Shaffer in 38th place, freshman Suzette Bossart finished 58th, and sophomores Nicola Angstadt and Abigail Zaylor finished 73rd and 80th respectively.

“Lauren Shaffer was steady,” Freeman said. “This was the first time this year that there was a 30-second gap between our first- and fifth- place runners, so I think we’ll rebound from that.”

Even though the team turned in a sub-par performance, the Panthers did manage to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships and will accompany the men’s team to Lock Haven.

“I think we’ll have a better meet at the regional,” Freeman added. “We definitely want to go to the NCAA Regional Championship and finish in the top ten.”

Both teams will compete at the NCAA Regional Championships on Nov. 15.