Oct. 27, 2007

Women's Results | Men's Results | Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Seniors Rachel Papin and David Alfano each placed second in their respective races as La Salle overcame heavy rain and wet conditions to defend its titles at the 2007 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Belmont Plateau.

The La Salle women's team claimed its fourth consecutive crown as Papin (18:34.0) was joined in the top five overall by teammates Christa Plummer (18:39.0 - fourth) and Carolyn Lipovsky (18:45 - fifth). In addition, freshman Kristina Kubula (19:35.0) placed 19th and junior Mary Clare Parrott (19:41.0) finished 22nd. The Explorers amassed 52 points, while Richmond had 82 points for its second runner-up showing in as many years.

"We went through a lot of adversity at the start of the season and today they really pulled it together as a team. Congratulations to Christina [DeRosa] on a great race and Rachel [Papin] showed why she will go down as probably the best runner in league history with another great performance today," said La Salle head coach Charles Torpey, who earned Women's Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive year and sixth time in his career.

"There were so many alumni, family and friends supporting us in the rain here today, and to defend the title so close to our campus made for a special day for our program."

Xavier finished a program-best third with 119 points, followed by Charlotte (123), Duquesne (132), Massachusetts (167), Saint Louis (178), Saint Joseph's (189), George Washington (194), Dayton (266), Fordham (274), Rhode Island (317), Temple (379) and St. Bonaventure (464).

Senior Christina DeRosa (18:27.0) of Massachusetts was named the Championship's Most Outstanding Performer after becoming just the third runner in program annals and first since Rebecca Donaghue in 1997 to win the A-10 individual title, while Xavier's Christina Schneider earned Most Outstanding Rookie honors after finishing sixth overall with a time of 18:46.0.

"I wanted to end the year on a high note since it's my senior year and I thought our team stepped it up today," said DeRosa, who finished tenth overall last season and sixth at the 2005 A-10 Championship.

"I ran pretty well at the Albany Invitational a couple weeks ago so that gave me a lot of confidence coming here today."

The lone three-time A-10 individual champion in Conference history, Papin was vying to become just the fourth female runner in NCAA history to win four individual league titles. She earned All-Conference honors for the fourth consecutive year.

"Our team really came together the last few weeks and to win four league titles is really special for our seniors. We had great support here today in spite of the weather and that really means a lot to the team."

Joining DeRosa, Papin, Plummer, Lipovsky and Schneider on the All-Conference team were Kylee Schuler and Nicol Traynor of Richmond; Duquesne's Emily Beahan and Samantha Howard; Amanda Goetschius and Aja Jackson of Charlotte; Audrey Noonan of George Washington; Xavier's Becky Clark; Andrea Florida of Saint Joseph's and Massachusetts' Shiyi Zan.

On the men's side, La Salle won its second straight title and fifth in the past six years as five Explorers finished in the top 15. Alfano finished second overall (25:43.0), while teammates Trevon Rainford (25:49.0) and Korey Edwards (25:50.0) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Graduate student Edward Baynes (26:01.0) finished 11th, while Ellis Wilson came in 15th with a time of 26:12.0.

"It's been a great year and to win on a day like today makes it even more exciting. I'm really proud of the guys because we knew Richmond would present a strong challenge," said Torpey.

La Salle finished with 37 points, while senior Jonathan Molz (25:45.0 - third) led Richmond (54) to a second-place finish, its highest in program history.

"I'm very excited about the way our team ran today. The weather wasn't great but our guys embraced it. We didn't run our best race but it was pretty darn close," said Richmond head coach Steve Taylor.

"After our team really came together at Arkansas on Oct. 13, we knew we would be a big factor here today. La Salle always shows up strong at the Conference Championship and it was a great competition."

Duquesne and Massachusetts tied for third place with 91 points, followed by Saint Joseph's (164), Dayton (199), George Washington (210), Xavier (221), Charlotte (222), Fordham (270), Temple (298), Saint Louis (310), Rhode Island (349) and St. Bonaventure (465).

Matt Lemon of Dayton garnered Most Outstanding Rookie honors after finishing eighth overall in a time of 25:54.0, while Torpey earned men's Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time. Despite falling with about 300 meters remaining, senior Tom Slosky of Duquesne became the program's first-ever individual champion after crossing the finish line with a winning time of 25:39.0. He finished runner-up a year ago to La Salle's Sean Quigley.

"It was one of my goals heading into my senior year and to become the first A-10 champion in Duquesne history means a lot to me," said Slosky, who earned Most Outstanding Performer honors for his efforts.

"My legs went out from underneath me around the last turn but I tried not to panic and stayed strong and was able to keep my focus."

Joining Slosky, Alfano, Molz, Rainford, Edwards, Baynes, Wilson and Lemon on the All-Conference team were teammates Andrew Benford and Matt Llano of Richmond; Andrew McCann and Jesse Regnier of Massachusetts; Saint Joseph's Kyle Murray; Derek Dutille of Duquesne and Charlotte's Chase Eckard.