Villanova Univeristy Athletics

November 25, 1992
Mike Blimm
Assistant Sports Information Director

Villanova University continued its dominance in the world of collegiate women’s cross country running on Monday with their fourth consecutive NCAA Division I Championship in the last four years. The win was Villanova’s closest of the four titles, but enough to extend their record streak to four. No other team has ever won more than two titles in the 12 year history of the meet.
 
The Wildcats posted the low score of 123 points, as they edged out Arkansas’ 130, and Big East rival Georgetown’s 131. It was the Wildcats’ smallest margin of victory of the four titles, and the highest winning score in the history of the women’s meet.
 
Carole Zajac (Jr., Pittsburgh, PA) also continued Villanova’s run of individual champions, as she ran away from the field over the last mile of the 3.1 mile course, to win by 11 seconds in 17:01.9. The win as the fourth consecutive year that a Villanova runner has claimed the individual crown, succeeding Vicki Huber (1989) and Sonia O’Sullivan (1990 & 91). Zajac, who had been the runner-up to O’Sullivan at last year’s meet, finished the season undefeated in her last five races.
 
Showing the poise of seniors, Nnenna Lynch (Sr., New York, NY) and Cheri Goddard (Sr., Saratoga Springs, NY) ran outstanding races to place third and seventh overall in 17:18.5 and 17:33.4. Both seniors ran on all four championships, and never lost a cross country race during their four years at Villanova. It was the highest individual finish for each runner in their four NCAA Championship races.
 
Becky Spies (So., Livermore, CA) finished strongly passing 20 runners in the final 800m, to be the fourth Wildcat to cross the line in 18:19.1 for 60^th place overall (45^th among teams competing for title), while Megan Flowers (Fr., Fort Worth, TX) held off a pack of ten runners in the final homestretch to round out the Villanova scoring in 18:31.5 for 87^th place (67^th in team scoring). Villanova’s sixth and seventh runners were Jen Rhines (Fr., Liverpool, NY) and Irene Ruopoli (Sr., Westbury, NY) in 98^th (18:36.4) and 111^th (18:47.2).
 
Head coach “Uncle Marty” Stern was thrilled with the team’s fourth straight win. “Every team I’ve coached has had its own identity. I told the team before the meet that they had no responsibility to the coaches or to the three past teams to keep the streak alive. They should win it for each other because this is such a close team.” Said Stern. “Carole Zajac proved that she is the best distance runner in college today by becoming more mature and confident. She overcame tremendous pressure to continue the streak, and I’m so happy for her first NCAA title.
 
“In 1989, Nnenna Lynch was 182^nd in this race and this year she was 3^rd, but its my opinion that we wouldn’t have won either year without her. At the end of both races, her face showed the same happiness – she’s a person that cares. And Cheri Goddard, as expected, continues to perform well in all NCAA meets, and like Lynch is very focused and the ultimate team person. I couldn’t be happier for Cheri and Nnenna,” said Stern of his two seniors.
 
“Becky Spies is one of the great young runners in America. With a half-mile to go she passed 20 opponents to help us win. They don’t come any tougher than her. Megan Flowers also ran a great race. She hung in there with all her spirit and might, and by holding her position helped give us the victory.”
 
“Jen Rhines ran with great enthusiasm and will be a major part of our quest for number five in 1993, and senior Irene Ruopoli contributed greatly to the team by acting like an assistant coach and keeping the young runners calm with her sense of humor. As always, she ran her heart out, and is someone who will be remembered for many years,” concluded Stern.
 

VILLANOVA ROSTER
Name	Class	Hometown	High School
Megan Flowers	Freshman	Fort Worth, Texas	Trinity Valley
Cheri Goddard	Senior	Saratoga Springs, N.Y.	Saratoga Springs
Nnenna Lynch	Senior	New York, N.Y.	Hunter College
Emer Molloy	Junior	Ballymahon, Ireland	Mercy Secondary
Jen Rhines	Freshman	Liverpool, N.Y.	Liverpool
Stacy Robinson	Freshman	Phoenixville, Pa.	Phoenixville
Irene Ruopoli	Senior	East Meadow, N.Y.	W.T. Clarke
Nikki Shaw	Freshman	Fillmore, Calif.	Fillmore
Becky Spies	Sophomore	Livermore, Calif.	Livermore
Carole Zajac	Junior	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Baldwin
Head Coach: Marty Stern (West Chester' 59), 10th Season
Assistant Coach: John Marshall, First Season
Assistant Coach: Judy West, First Season

 

1992 HONORS AND AWARDS