Lopez’s Record Run Reels in CACC’s Weekly Runner and Rookie Awards, Barton Ends up on Honor Roll
New Haven, Conn. - (9/21/2015) – At Rowan University’s Bill Fritz/Charlie Way Invitational, freshman Raquel Lopez (East Meadow, N.Y.) showed the way as her 9th place finish (24:19.74) beat the Griffins’ all-time mark in a six-kilometer (6K) race by a 38 seconds (24:57.00, 59th - Miranda Ward ‘09 (NCAA Regional, 11/21/10)) and helped establish a team best in the 6K while leading the Chestnut Hill College women to a 5th (5th of 10, 111 points) place finish. Junior Eric Barton (Colora, Md.) trail blazed for the Griffin men, running 19th in a time of 28:27.19. Lopez’s achievement was rewarded with the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Runner and Rookie of the Week awards while Barton earned mention on the league’s weekly Honor Roll.
Lopez’s record-setting pace was supported by junior Paige Antall (Hanover Township, Pa.), who ran to the Griffins third-best 6K time (25:04.24) with her 16th place finish. Behind the Griffin front came freshmen Allison Heuwetter (Iselin, N.J.) (34th, 26:19.36), Erica Dukleth (Murrieta, Calif.) (37th, 26:28.29), and Erica Waleksi (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) (45th, 27:17.07), and sophomore Emily Bensen-Abatangelo (East Meadow, N.Y.) (75th, 30:48.93).
Behind Barton’s run the Griffins men claimed an 8th (8th of 11, 187 points) place finish in the eight kilometer (8K) run. Sophomore Luis Cordero (Bunnell, Fla.) was less than two minutes (30:21.04) behind Barton, but he finished 43rd, just two spots ahead of senior Daniel Repsik (Haddonfield, N.J.), who came in placed 45th in 30:29.24. Senior Manon Purnell (Philadelphia, Pa.) was next (70th, 35:11.59), then freshman Ediegeo Vanterpool (Clementon, N.J.) (88th, 41:37.27), and freshman David Flores (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (92nd, 50:19.00).
The Chestnut Hill College men’s and women’s cross country teams run next at the Bryn Athyn College Invitational on October 3 (10:00 a.m.).