Oct. 3, 1999

On Saturday Oct. 2, the Villanova women's cross country team participated in the LaSalle Invitational held at the Belmont Plateau. Villanova dominated the competition by taking the first four spots and six of the top 10. The Wildcats tallied just 18 points to easily outdistance LaSalle who finished second with 46 points.

Senior Carmen Douma (Cambridge, Ontario) won her second race in as many outings, as she ran 17:32.91 to easily take home first place honors. Fellow senior Kristen Nicolini (Annapolis, Md.) was the only other runner to break the 18-minute barrier, finishing the demanding course in 17:49.00 to place second, while junior Ann McGranahan (Pensacola, Fla.) posted a third place finish in a time of 18:04.38. Running in just her second collegiate race, freshman Liz Awtrey (Burke, Va.) turned in an outstanding effort to finish fourth in 18:21.46.

Rounding out top 10 finishes for Villanova were junior Geraldine McCarthy (Listowel, Ireland) and rookie Sheila Klick (Lansdowne, Pa.). McCarthy covered the course in 19:18.42 to earn an eighth place finish, while Klick turned in a ninth place effort with a time of 19:21.49. Junior Meghan Courtney (Waterloo, N.Y.) gave the Wildcats a solid effort, tallying a 123h place finish in 19:51.92.

Also competing in the race for Villanova were junior Jessica Franks (Lansdale, Pa.), junior Susan Billings (Berlin, N.J.) and freshman Jocelyn Fontaine. Franks was timed in 21:29.03 to place 32nd, while Billings was 36th with a clocking of 21:49.24. Fontaine recorded a 47th place effort in 22:19.78.

The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 16 when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to compete in the Pre-NCAA meet. The pre-meet will be held on the same course where Villanova will defend its NCAA cross country championship on Monday, Nov. 22.

TEAM SCORES

1. Villanova 18

2. LaSalle 46

3. George Washington 115

4. Haverford 122

5. West Chester 125

6. Widener 161

7. Keene State 164

8. St. Bonaventure 251

INDIVIDUAL FINISHES

1. Carmen Douma 17:32.91

2. Kristen Nicolini 17:49.00

3. Ann McGranahan 18:04.38

4. Liz Awtrey 18:21.46

8. Geraldine McCarthy 19:18.42

9. Sheila Klick 19:21.49

13. Meghan Courtney 19:51.92

32. Jessica Franks 21:29.03

36. Susan Billings 21:49.24

47. Jocelyn Fontaine 22:19.78