Sept. 21, 1999
On Friday, Sept. 17, the Villanova University women's cross country team opened the 1999 season in convincing style, as they competed against Haverford College and Widener University in a meet held at Haverford's Featherbed Fields Course. Wildcat runners occupied the first eight spots and all 11 Villanova athletes who competed finished in the top 20.
Senior All-American Carmen Douma (Cambridge, Ontario) paced the Wildcats winning the two-mile race in a time of 10:44.76. Finishing second behind Douma was junior Ann McGranahan (Pensacola, Fla.) who covered the course in 10:50.11. Also breaking the 11-minute barrier was senior Kristen Nicolini (Annapolis, Md.) with a time of 10:59.23.
Newcomer Liz Awtrey (Burke, Va.) began her collegitae career with a strong outing, finishing fourth in 11:17.11, while Geraldine McCarthy (Listowel, Ireland) returned to competition for the first time in two years and placed fifth with a clocking of 11:35.73. McCarthy missed all of the 1998-99 season due to a foot injury. Rookie Sheila Klick (Lansdowne, Pa.) placed sixth in her first Villanova race in 11:50.56, while Meghan Courtney (Waterloo, N.Y.) tallied a seventh place effort in a time of 11:51.55. Rounding out the top eight was senior Lony'e Johnson (Wilmington, Del.) who was timed in 11:57.75.
Also competing for Villanova were juniors Susan Billings (Berlin, N.J.) and Jessica Franks (Lansdale, Pa.), senior Leashia Rahr (Syracuse, N.Y.) and freshman Jocelyn Fontaine (Boothwyn, Pa.). Billings turned in a 15th place effort (12:59.30) followed closely by Franks who was 16th in 13:09.65. Fontaine (13:10.64) and Rahr finished 18th and 19th respectively.
The Wildcats will return to action on Friday, October 1 when they will run in the LaSalle Invitational at Belmont Plateau.
VILLANOVA FINISHERS
1. Douma 10:44.76
2. McGranahan 10:50.11
3. Nicolini 10:59.23
4. Awtrey 11:17.11
5. McCarthy 11:35.73
6. Klick 11:50.56
7. Courtney 11:51.55
8. Johnson 11:57.75
9. Billings 12:59.30
16. Franks 13:06.65
18. Fontaine 13:10.64
19. Rahr 13:13.13
