America East XC Championships Saturday, November 2, 2002 Franklin Park, Boston 40's, breezy, sunny
Reigning 'Cats and Dogs New Hampshire's Wildcats and Boston University's Terriers continued their dominance of the America East conference with wins at the conference's 15th annual Championships at Boston's Franklin Park on Saturday. Run a day after the Big East meet, temperatures were 15 degrees lower, winds were brisker, and the races ran in the extending shadows of the day that had spectators looking for gloves and an extra layer of clothing. After the first turn, the men's race became a two runner match between two time defending champion Jochen Dieckfoss of Boston University and last year's runner-up Dan Hocking of New Hampshire. Splits of 4:40, 9:30, and 14:24 run in lockstep put them well clear of the field. It wasn't until the final up-and-over Bear Cage Hill at 4 1/2 that Dieckfoss surged ahead to take his third straight crown. UNH coach Jim Boulanger noted that the key for his team was to take charge of the race early on, knowing that Boston University and Maine would be working to knock off the squad that had won three of the past four league contest. The 'Cats did so by comandeering the chase pack and running 3-4-5 behind Hocking from the midpoint onward; helping that effort was Tony Truax, 2001 Footlocker finalist, in fourth as top freshman; he's had a limited season to date coming back after injury. The challengers BU and Maine wound up tied for second. The women's race over 5K was Heading into two miles, the nine team field had a clear cut trio of Jenny Payne and Leonora Joy of Stony Brook sandwiching Vermont's Michele Palmer. They held position over the final mile with Payne becoming the first Seawolf runner to win a conference title. Boston University, winner of five straight and 11 of 14 cups as top team, came on strong as a pack in the final circuit around Playstead field, with Sherida Bird, Dina Mijuskovic, and frosh Jessica Ianucci nearly catching the bronze medalist. Finishing their five scorers in the top 11, the Terriers made it an even dozen league wins with a 7 point gap over Stony Brook. Full results at www.americaeast.com Men: Teams: 1.New Hampshire, 25; 2.TIE, Boston University and Maine, 67; 4.Albany, 98; 5.Vermont 146; 6.Binghampton 170; 7.Stony Brook 179; 8.Northeastern 219; 9.Hartford 272. Individuals: 1.Jochen Dieckfoss BU 23:45; 2.Dan Hocking NH 23:51; 3.Steve Meinelt NH 24:34; 4.Tony Truax NH 24:48; 5.Peter Mallett NH 24:51; 6.Joe Pienta A 25:00; 7.Nolan Tobey M 25:04; 8.Andy ALlstadt A 25:06; 9.Mike Lansing M 25:11; 10.Robert Wong BU 25:14. Women: Teams: 1.Boston University, 36; 2.Stony Brook 43; 3.New Hapshire 78; 4.Vermont 113; 5.Albany 118; 6.Maine 161; 7.Binghampton 173; 8.Northeastern 191; 9.Hartford 292. Individuals: 1.Jenny Payne SB 17:32; 2.Michele Palmer V 17:44; 3.Leonora Joy SB 17:47; 4.Sherida Bird BU 17:51; 5.Dina Mijuskovic BU 17:51; 6.Jessica Iannucci BU 17:52; 7.Jackie Nunez SB 18:13; 8.Lesley Read NH 18:19; 9.Katie Litwinowoch NH 18:23; 10.Charlotte Coffey BU 18:28
