Women's Cross Country Seeks Sixth Straight Northeast-10, NCAA Regional Crowns This Season As Veteran Group Returns To Skyhawk Fold
August 9, 2005
When you think of long term success in athletics of late, perhaps the run of the New England Patriots during this decade comes to mind for most folks, but the accomplishments of the Stonehill women?s cross country program over that same time span are equally impressive.
Head Coach Karen Boen has guided her program from the bottom of the Northeast-10 Conference standings to the top of the Northeast region over the last five seasons, as the Skyhawks have copped five straight league and NCAA regional crowns along the way while earning a prominent spot nationally among the elite programs in Division II. With nearly 30 all-league performers, three NCAA Regional Runners of the Year and a pair of All-America athletes to speak of, Stonehill has enjoyed great success under Boen?s tutelage, and with 10 veterans back in the fold coupled with talented newcomers, six straight is a sweet goal for the Skyhawks this fall.
Senior Erin Smith (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) returns for her final season of competition after enjoying a stellar campaign in both cross country and track and field last year, as she participated in the NCAA championships in all three seasons. Smith, who became the second all-New England performer in school history last fall, placed third at the NCAA Northeast Regional championships and fourth at the Northeast-10 championships and completed her season with a solid 39th place performance at the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championships at Southern Indiana.
Juniors Kelly Chaisson (Walpole, Mass./Bishop Feehan) and Dana DeIngenis (Cranston, R.I./St. Mary?s Academy - Bay View) also return to the Stonehill fold and provide additional experience, as Chaisson placed fifth at the Northeast-10 championships and sixth at the NCAA Northeast Regional championships before finishing 82nd individually at the Division II national championships. DeIngenis also earned all-league and all-regional accolades by placing eighth at both championship events.
Junior Lauren Eynatian (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) and sophomore Meghan Barrett (Norfolk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) round out the Skyhawks? returning quintet of all-Northeast-10 performers, as Barrett placed 16th during her rookie run at the conference championships and Eynatian added a 21st place finish.
Senior Caitlin Callahan (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury), juniors Jill Allen (Peabody, Mass./Peabody Memorial) and Kristi Caputo (Belmont, Mass./Phillips Andover), along with sophomores Lesley Clunie (Newburyport, Mass./Governor Dummer) and Mary Donovan (Sudbury, Mass./Marian), round out the list of veterans back in Boen?s fold in 2005. Clunie posted Stonehill?s top time at the Bryant Invitational last fall, as Donovan placed 15th in that same event.
The drive for the Skyhawks? sixth conference and regional titles begins on Saturday, September 10th when Stonehill heads to Hanover, N.H. to participate in the Dartmouth Invitational beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
