United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Women's Cross Country - Bears Place 16th at New England Championships

CUMBERLAND, MAINE--(11/14/09)--Paced by freshman Sarah Blatt and senior co-captain Tessa Knott, the Coast Guard Academy women's cross country team finished 16th in a field of 47 teams at the Division III New England Regional Championships. The meet was hosted by the University of Southern Maine at Twin Brooks Golf Course in Cumberland, Maine.

As they've done throughout the season, the Bears once again placed their top 5 runners in tight packs. Blatt (23:50) and Knott (24:18) held a steady pace through the 6000-meter course of fields, challenging hills, dirt trails through the woods, and crossing the finish in 67th and 92nd place respectively. Sophomore Katie Schumacher was close behind covering the course 24:30 and finishing 100th overall.

Rounding out the Coast Guard scoring for the day was senior co-captain Bryce VanCleef, who finished 128th with a time of 25:01, and junior Colin Fall, who was 132nd with a 25:04 finish.

Middlebury and MIT tied for the championship followed by Williams, Amherst, and Wesleyan rounded out the top five qualifying teams.

Although the 2009 season is over for the cross country women, several will go on to compete for the indoor track team during the winter season. Unfortunately, the team will graduate two seniors consistently running in the top 5 spots, but the younger runners demonstrated promising results this season and will look to help the team again next season.