November 21, 1989
Jim DiLorenzo
Sports Information Department

The sun always shines brightest when you win. At Annapolis, Maryland yesterday, the skies were clear and the smiles were wide when the Villanova women's cross country team captured the 1989 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The title is the first national crown for any Wildcat women's program, and the second Villanova national title this decade (men's basketball won in 1985). 

No one smiled wider than senior Vicki Huber. The individual winner of the NCAA Championship, Huber finished the 5000m course in an NCAA meet record, course record and personal best time of 15:59.86. Her victory, which completed an undefeated cross country season for her and her teammates, earned her an eighth individual NCAA Championship, and concluded her storybook collegiate running career.

"No one has won as many NCAA titles as Vicki," explained a jubilant "Uncle Marty" Stern. The Wildcat head coach, who came to Villanova in the fall of 1983 as a volunteer assistant and brought the women's track and cross country programs into national prominence, was named the NCAA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year by his peers.

"This is the biggest coaching day of my life," Stern added. "When you get this closle to an NCAA title, it's important to win. It's been a very emotional season for me and my team, but a moment like this makes it all rewarding."

The Wildcats won the national championship with 99 team points, outdistancing second-place Kentucky, who finished wth 168 points. Nebraska was third, with 186 points, and Georgetown fourth, with 193 points. The 'Cats conclude the 1989 cross country campaign undefeated, and were ranked #1 in the NCAA poll for five consecutive weeks. All the elements came together for these Wildcats in Annapolis.

The WIldcats won wih spectacular performances from their gang of seven. Senior Kathy Franey (Topsfield, MA) concluded her collegiate cross country career wth a ninth place finish in the team scoring, in a time of 17:01.38. Junior Sonia O'Sullivan (Cobh, Ireland) placed 18th in the team scoring, in 17:18.26, while junior Kim Certain (Dix HIlls, NY) was 34th, in 17:41.82. Rounding out Villanova's top five was freshman Cheri Goddard (Saratoga Springs, NY), who finished in 37th place in 17:48.29.

Junior Kate Fonshell (Glen Mills, PA) finished in 83rd place, in 18:01.71, while freshman Nnenna Lynch (New York, NY) was 182nd, in 20:57.46.

"Every woman on this team has contributed throughout the entire season," said Stern. "From Vicki and Kathy Franey, to Michelle DiMuro and Michele Torelli, these are the people who won this national championship for us. I'm extremly proud of every one of them, and feel really good about this day."

The Wildcats team ttle is the culmination of a season in which Villanova won the Big East Conference Championship, and the ECAC Championship, as well as a tie for first in the NCAA Region 2 Championship. The 'Cats were unbeaten in five cross country events on the road to Annapolis.

"This was my toughest race of the season," commented the victorious Huber. "It's my last race for Villanova, and it was very important to me to win a team title for Villanova. It's a great way to end my Villanova career."

"Vicki ran for Villanova, her teammates and herself," Stern added. "I think the fact that she was able to share the spotlight today with her teammates makes this her sweetest win."

 

VILLANOVA ROSTER
Name	Class	Hometown	High School
Kim Certain	Junior	Dix Hills, N.Y.	Half Hollow Hills West
Michelle DiMuro	Senior	Tabernacle, N.J.	Shawnee
Elaine Duck	Senior	Myersville, Md.	Middletown
Kate Fonshell	Junior	Glen Mills, Pa.	Penncrest
Kathy Franey	Senior	Topsfield, Mass.	Massapequa (N.Y.)
Cheri Goddard	Freshman	Saratoga Springs, N.Y.	Saratoga Springs
Carol Haux	Junior	Plymouth Meeting, Pa.	Archbishop Kennedy
Vicki Huber	Senior	Wilmington, Del.	Concord
Tara Kennedy	Junior	Langhorne, Pa.	Bishop Conwell
Nnenna Lynch	Freshman	New York, N.Y.	Hunter College
Sharon Moore	Sophomore	Brooklyn, N.Y.	Boys and Girls
Sonia O'Sullivan	Junior	Cobh, Ireland	Cobh Vocational
Irene Ruopoli	Freshman	East Meadow, N.Y.	W.T. Clarke
Michelle Torelli	Sophomore	Clifton Heights, Pa.	Cardinal O'Hara
Head Coach: Marty Stern (West Chester '59), Seventh Season
Assistant Coach: Mike Bellarosa (Geneseo '82), Second Season

   

1989 HONORS AND AWARDS

Honda Sports Award
Vicki Huber

USTFCCCA National Coach of the Year
Marty Stern

BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Marty Stern and Mike Bellarosa

NCAA Individual Champion
Vicki Huber

NCAA District II Indivdiual Champion
Vicki Huber

ECAC Individual Champion
Vicki Huber

BIG EAST Individual Champion
Vicki Huber

USTFCCCA All-Americans
Kathy Franey
Vicki Huber

BIG EAST All-Conference Team
Kim Certain
Michelle DiMuro
Kate Fonshell
Kathy Franey
Cheri Goddard
Vicki Huber
Nnenna Lynch
Sonia O'Sullivan