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Experience will pace the Herons
September 2, 2005
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Sophomore Leanne Roncolato and |
GENEVA, N.Y.—The William Smith College cross country team made great strides at the end of the 2004 season, so Head Coach Jack Warner is looking for these strong performances to carry over into the fall. The Herons return five experienced runners from last year’s squad, paced by junior Leanne Roncolato (Meadville/Meadville, Pa.).
Roncolato returns as William Smith’s top runner, crossing the finish line first for the Herons in every race last year. At the Saratoga Invitational on Oct. 23, she recorded the Herons’ best 5-kilometer time of the season (20:08), which earned her a 34th place finish out of 124 runners. She sliced 48 seconds off her previous week’s time at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational. Roncolato also paced William Smith in the 6k, turning in a season’s best time (24:51) at the NCAA regional championships.
Junior Jennifer Strong (Honeoye/Honeoye, N.Y.) showed the most improvement throughout her sophomore campaign. At the Saratoga Invitational, Strong covered the course in 20:41, which shaved nearly four minutes off her time at the beginning of the season along with earning her a 45th place finish. She excelled at the Hobart Invitational, a 6k race, by turning in her quickest time.
Senior Kate Chabot (Keene/Keene, N.H.), who consistently improved in every 5k race throughout the season, will guide the Herons to team success through her experience and tireless work ethic. In her final 5k competition, Chabot registered her fastest performance of the season, clipping 2:15 off her time from her first race in the fall.
Sophomore Morgan MacCuaig (Rutland/Mendon, Vt.), who finished second on the team in a pair of races, turned in a career-best performance (21:08) at the Saratoga Invitational, which earned her a 64th place finish out of 124 runners. She trimmed 2:20 off her first collegiate race.
Senior Amanda Condello (Irondequoit/Rochester, N.Y) notched season-best performances at the Saratoga Invitational. Condello sliced a whole minute off her previous week’s time.
The addition of first-years Marisa Athas (Middlesex School/Westwood, Mass.) and Shannon Sage (Windsor Central/Kirkwood, N.Y.) will provide immediate results and create depth in the Herons’ lineup. In high school competition, Athas and Sage posted times of 20:08 and 20:43, respectively, in the 5k.
The Herons will race into action on Sept. 3 at the Dan Walker Invitational.