FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2000

HAWKS WOMEN’S HARRIERS WIN NEC CROWN, COMPAGNI NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University’s women’s cross country squad won its third Northeast Conference crown toppling two-time defending champion Central Connecticut State at the NEC Championships Saturday morning at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain, Connecticut.

Monmouth’s women won the meet with 81 points edging out St. Francis (Pa.) who tallied 84 points. Maryland-Baltimore County finished with 94 points and CCSU posted 100 points. It was Monmouth’s first title since winning back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.

At the meet, head coach Joe Compagni was recognized as the Northeast Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Compagni became the first MU cross country coach to earn the accolade and joined field hockey coach Monica Morgan Levy as the second Monmouth coach to earn Coach of the Year honors for the 2000-01 academic year.

On the men’s side, St. Francis (Pa.) won the team title with 26 points, placing four runners in the top five. Fairleigh Dickinson placed second with 33 points followed by UMBC with 115 and Monmouth with 116.

Monmouth’s women had two All-NEC performers as Amala Merritt finished in eighth place with a time of 18:56 and Tara Losito finished 10th with a time of 19:03.Taryn Phelps was clocked at 19:17 to place 15th and Kim Wolozen finished in 21st place with a time of 19:27.

Jen Ecker of UMBC captured the women’s individual title with a time of 18:30. Erika Suhy of Robert Morris placed second with a time of 18:39.

Monmouth’s men were led by freshman Nick Pelligrino and junior Joe Daniels. Pelligrino placed 17th with a time of 27:12 and Daniels was clocked at 27:18 to finish in 19th place. Freshman Brian Hoffman placed 21st with a time of 27:19.

Stephen Ondieki of Fairleigh Dickinson won the men’s individual crown with a time of 24:52.

Monmouth continues its schedule on November 11 as the Hawks travel to State College, Pa., for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Stanley Quarter Park – New Britain, Conn.

WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS: 1. MONMOUTH, 81; 2. St. Francis (Pa.), 84; 3. Maryland-Baltimore County, 94, 4. Central Connecticut State, 100; 5. Sacred Heart, 110; 6. Wagner, 116; 7. Quinnipiac, 144; 8. Robert Morris, 155; 9. Mount St. Mary’s, 264; 10. Fairleigh Dickinson, 320; 11. Long Island, 322; 12. St. Francis (N.Y.), 340.

MONMOUTH INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 8. Amala Merritt, 18:56; 10. Tara Losito, 19:03; 15. Taryn Phelps, 19:17; 21. Kim Wolozen, 19:27; 27. Marquita Hannibal, 19:39; 35. Amy Werner, 19:58; 38. Jessica Pratt, 20:11; 44. Maryanne Nicks, 20:27; 54. Lakei Chester, 20:44; 60. Kandace Leuallen, 21:06.

MEN’S TEAM RESULTS: 1. St. Francis (Pa.), 26; 2. Fairleigh Dickinson, 33; 3. Maryland-Baltimore County, 115; 4. Monmouth, 116; 5. Central Connecticut State, 133; 6. Quinnipiac, 149; 7. Mount St. Mary’s, 206; 8. Sacred Heart, 212; 9. Robert Morris, 238; 10. Wagner, 276; 11. Long Island, 340; 12. St. Francis (N.Y.), 366.

MONMOUTH INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 17. Nick Pelligrino, 27:12; 19. Joe Daniel, 27:18; 21. Brian Hoffman, 27:19; 28. Jason Santucci, 27:43; 31. Brad Bisinger, 27:53; 39. Bill Mason, 28:08; 50. Curtis Akacki, 28:41; 54. Paulo Oliviera, 29:00; 81. Nick Klastava, 30:47; 89. Justo Rodriguez, 32:08.