SPARTAN STRIDERS REGIONAL MEET RESULTS (11/3/2007)
On a beautiful autumn day at VanCortlandt Park, the Spartan Striders finished their xc season with pride, gusto, and an eye towards the future. Running against 22 other division II schools, the men finished 11th overall, while the women finished 18th overall.
For the men, it was a run with an eye on the future, as they almost cracked into the top ten rankings. A feat that hasn't been accomplished since moving into the Division II league.
Once again, Elmer Eckert lead the stac pack as he crossed the line in 35:06 for the 10K race, good enough for 46 place overall. Elmer saved his best race for the season as he fought the good fight and run like a true frontrunner. Following Elmer across the line was captain gangemi. Andrew running his first race since recovering from a quad injury, while still nursing an ankle injury, willed himself back to the number two position on the team by running a tactical race as he crossed the line in 35:51, finishing in 56 position overall.
Sophomore, Vinny Modeferri probably had the greatest race as a Spartan as he finally rounded into xc racing shape and stormed home in 36:00 flat, good enough for 59 place overall. Following Vinny down the long straightaway was Junior Rafael Ortiz who came home in 36:11 and placed 61st overall. Rafael continued to show his mettle as a xc runner by finishing with a strong kick to the finish line. Rounding out the top five was freshman Christian Mendez who ran a strategic race and had a long finishing kick which brought him home in 37:42, finishing in 84th place overall.
Sophomore Lee Beulta ran a well fought race, as he schooled a couple of other runners down the quarter mile straightaway and finished with a time of 40:49 good enough for 124th place. Freshman Matt Tucker almost missed the race, starting about 40 seconds behind because of equipment problems, yet came home in a time of 41:15 minutes, placing 128th overall to round out the seven Spartan striders.
As all the striders are returning next year, much will be expected of them... yet in this field of dreams much can be accomplished. Their slogan will be..."Don't lower your expectations, there are no limitations!
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS MEN'S TEAM RESULTS (top five)
11th place overall Total running time: 3:00:51.7
46 Elmer Eckert JR 35:06.2 = 5:39 ppm
56 Andrew Gangemi JR 35:51.2 = 5:46 ppm
59 Vinny Modeferri SO 36:00.6 = 5:48 ppm
61 Rafael Ortiz JR 36:11.6 = 5:50 ppm
84 Christian
Mendez
FR 37:42.1 = 6:04 ppm
For the lady Spartans it was a day to fulfill personal expectations, as well as plan for the future. Three of the five runners will be returning next year, while our two seniors will be graduating.
Once again leading the STAC pack was freshman Sade Mosher who ran a 29:30 for her first 6K xc race. Sade finished in 102nd place and displayed a powerful kick to the finish line. Closely following Sade was senior Lisa Urnaitis who strode home in 29:49, two places behind Sade.
Lisa ran a great race, as she went out hard and kept herself in the thick of things as the race progressed. Four place behind Lisa, was fellow senior, Samara Vega, finishing her last xc race in a time of 30:23, placing 108th overall. Samara's improvement over the last year has been remarkable, one that has shown her commitment and work ethic!
In 114th position was Ashley Toscano. Ashley has been injuried most of the season, yet chose to continue to run as a way of helping her team. Last year, Ashley was a top runner. We are trusting that as the injury heals that she will return to her former place. Rounding out the top five was sophomore Amanda Szorentini who run 36:22 and came in 117th place. Like Ashley, Amanda was also injuried and could not perform anywhere near her previous times of last year.
As the season has closed for the Lady Spartans, one wonders how well they could have done if Lisa had been able to come out earlier in the season, and Ashley and Amanda had been able to stay healthy and lead the team as the number one and two runners on the team.
As they ponder the next year with the plan of staying healthy, adding some new teammates, their future looks bright! Their slogan will be..."The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare!
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS (top five) 18th place overall. Total running time: 2:39:02.6
102 Sade Mosher FR 29:30.5 = 7:58 ppm
104 Lisa Urnaitis SR 29:49.8 = 8:03 ppm
108 Samara Vega SR 30:23.9 = 8:12 ppm
114 Toscano Ashley SO 32:55.7 = 8:53 ppm
117 Amanda
Szorentini
SO 36:22.7 = 9:49 ppm