October 17, 2011

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - James Vander Wiele of Felician College and Sarah Simonetti of Philadelphia University have been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Runners of the Week for Oct. 17. Rookie of the Week honors were given to Richie Mitten and Althea Davidson of Wilmington University.

Vander Wiele, a senior from Pequannock, N.J., ran to a fifth-place finish at the CTC Championship on Saturday, earning a time of 26:49. He led the Golden Falcons to a fifth-place finish as a team.

Simonetti, a senior from Perkasie, Pa., led Philadelphia at the CTC Championship by placing third in a time of 18:46. The Rams finished second at the event.

Mitten, a freshman from Bear, Del., placed sixth at the Division II/III race at the Delaware Invitational, crossing in 27:57 and serving as the team's second runner.

Davidson, a freshman from New Castle, Del., placed seventh at the Delaware Invitational, completing the course in 25:45 (6,000 meters). She was the second runner for the Wildcats.

Honorable Mention
Bill Steele, Wilmington (Jr., Conowingo, MD) - Won the DII/DIII race at the Delaware Invitational in a time of 27:23.  

Kip Kirui, Philadelphia (Jr., Rift Valley, Kenya) - Was the second finisher from a CACC school at the CTC Championship, crossing in 10th place in 27:15.  

Whitney Hora, Wilmington (So., Kingsville, MD) - Finished in second place at the DII/DIII race at the Delaware Invitational in a time of 25:16 on the 6,000 meter course.

Sarah Dugandzic, Dominican (Sr., Suffern, NY) - Placed first at the DII/DIII competition at the St. John's Fall Festival, crossing in a 4K time of 15:12. 

CACC Cross Country Notes

Felician - Despite resting top two runners Rob Albano and Taylor Trumbetti for next week's CACC Championship, Felician still finished fourth out of 15 teams, including first out of three CACC schools, at Saturday's Collegiate Track Conference Championship. The Golden Falcons were led by a resurgent James Vander Wiele. The 2008 CACC Runner of the Year, Vander Wiele has gone through an injury-plagued career since then, but has broken 27 minutes in back-to-back weeks, and on Saturday placed 5th out of 148.
Taylor Parker became the sixth freshman to run for the Felician women this season after the Golden Falcons returned no one from their 2010 squad. Felician hosted a rare dual meet on Oct. 12, losing to Bloomfield, 24-31, in a 4,000-meter event at Garret Mountain. Alyssa Collier was the individual winner that day in 19:10.

Georgian Court - Freshman Isalin Howard has been the Lions' top finisher in all five of GCU's meets this season.

Philadelphia - Philadelphia University took 2nd place at the 2011 CTC Championship Cross Country Meet. Senior Sarah Simonetti lead the charge by finishing 3rd overall in the race, while two of her teammates finished in the top 12 overall. They included fellow senior Gabrielle Dei Tos (8th) followed by freshman Taylor Falvey (12th). The Ram men's team took 7th place at the CTC Championship Run. Junior Alfred "Kip" Kirui finished 10th overall leading all PhilaU. runners. In addition teammate Tyler Dye (15th) and rookie Tim Malloy (18th) were able to finish in the top twenty.