MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME CROSS COUNTRY

Elms Blazer Invitational

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Chicopee, Mass.

CHICOPEE, Mass. --  Both Massachusetts Maritime cross country squads posted solid performances at the Elms Blazer Invitational on Saturday afternoon, as the Buccaneer men placed fifth of 18 teams while the Buccaneer women finished 12^th of 22 teams overall in the competition, with both teams placing second among the four MASCAC entrants.

Freshman James MacVarish (Braintree, Mass.) earned all-invitational honors on the men’s side with a 10^th place individual finish in a field of 91 runners for Massachusetts Maritime, as he covered the 8K course in a time of 28:48.  Juniors Brenton Andrews (Hubbardston, Mass.) and Tyler Brady (Woburn, Mass.) were next in 22^nd and 39^th place, respectively, with times of 29:30 and 31:02, while junior Godfred Mbengam (Randolph, Mass.) and senior Steven Migridichian (Shrewsbury, Mass.) rounded out the Buccaneer scoring in respective 46^th and 52^nd place with times of 32:15 and 32:42.  The University of New England claimed top team honors with a score of 36 points, while Westfield State (47) and Connecticut College (75) captured the runner-up and third place spots.

Senior Liz Leonardi (Sandwich, Mass.) led the way for a fourth straight week on the women’s side for Massachusetts Maritime, as she covered the 5K layout in a time of 23:49 that was good for 51^st place individually in a field of 129 entrants.  Sophomore Dominque Dertien (Panama City, Fla.) and senior Jenelle Piche (Coventry, R.I.) followed in 60^th and 62^nd place, respectively, with times of 24:43 and 24:53, while freshman Kylie Foster (Sandwich, Mass.) and senior Lauren Bateman (Newbury, Mass.) closed out the Buccaneer scoring with respective 76^th and 99^th place finishes in times of 25:32 and 27:14.  The University of New England took top team honors in the event with 23 points, while Trinity (57) and Westfield State (69) claimed the runner-up and third place positions.

Both Massachusetts Maritime squads travel to Providence, R.I. next Saturday morning to compete at the CCRI Tri-State Invitational that begins at 11:00 a.m.