MANSFIELD, Conn. – Based upon the results of last season, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's cross country team knew that it had an established No. 1 runner this season in senior All-New England Alliance runner Kelly Labanara (Chaplin).
At right: Cooper Goslin (left) and Noah Hallisey (Photo by Liam Murphy)
Based upon the results of the last two weeks, however, the Warriors may have found their No. 1-A performer.
Over 5,000 meters at the Eastern Invitational Saturday at Mansfield Hollow State Park, sophomore Mariah McPhee (Bristol) outran a field of 42 runners to capture first place overall in leading Eastern to a second-place finish in a field of three teams, traversing the 5,000 meter layout in 20:28 – 30 seconds faster than Andrea Hicks of Westfield.
While no runner on the course could match McPhee's winning time of 20:28, no team could rival Westfield State University's depth as the Owls placed all five of their scoring runners among the top seven to total just 23 points. Eastern, with junior co-captain Courtney Magario (Voluntown) running fourth overall (21:07), comfortably took second place with 36 points, with University of Saint Joseph (CT) well back, with 83. Post University also competed but did not score points, as the team was represented by only three individuals.
For the men, freshmen Cooper Goslin (South Windsor) and Noah Hallisey (East Lyme) ran virtually as one for the third straight race, crossing the line less than seven seconds apart – seventh and eighth overall – as Eastern totaled 48 points for second place in a field of three. In similar fashion to the Westfield women, the Owl men dominated, barely missing a shutout with 16 points. Four Westfield runners were the first across the finish line – 37 seconds apart – with No. 5 man Teven Cintron sixth overall. Post was third as a team with 75 points.
Freshman Justin Halley bettered the field of 36 over 5,000 meters in a time of 16:39, with senior teammate Steve Connolly five seconds off the pace.
Goslin took top honors for the Warriors for the third straight race in a time of 17:30, with Hallisey right on his heels (17:36) for the third straight race.
Rounding out the women's scoring runners were sophomores Sofia Amaral (New Milford) and Kelsey Nixon (Ledyard) and freshman Ariel Smith (Stratford). Amara was eighth overall (21:16), Nixon 13th (21:33) and Smith 14th (21:37).
Backing up Goslin and Hallisey for the men were sophomores Chris Armstrong (Bolton), and Joe Rainville (Montville), and junior co-captain Steven LaFlamme (Moosup). The trio placed 10-11-12 overall in times of 17:40, 17:53 and 17:58.
The Eastern men and women ran again without their No. 1 runners. Labanara has not run since the opening race Aug. 30 and remains tentative for the next several weeks as she rehabilitates and injury. Senior Lee Cattanach (New London) of the men's squad – who missed all of last year with injury -- is expected to make his 2014 debut this Saturday when the men and women compete at the Massachusetts Dartmouth Invitational.
