GAELS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT MAAC TITLE

RIVERDALE, NY - Graduate Anna Holm-Joergensen earned a first place finish in leading the Iona College women's cross country to its fifth straight MAAC Championship this afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. Holm-Joergensen topped the second place finisher by nearly 11 seconds with a time of 22:40.9 in the victory. The Gaels extended their MAAC record with the fifth straight title.

Freshman Marion Joly-Testault (22:55.2) was third overall and was followed by 2008 MAAC Champion Annelore Desaedeleer (23:21.0). Junior Kristen Peluso finished seventh (23:42.8). Senior Ashling Baker rounded out the Gaels scorers in 12th place (24:08.7). Also crossing the line in the Top 20 were sophomore Heidi Gregson (13th, 24:15.3) and juniors Chelsea Brisman (17th, 24:43.3) and Natalie Finnerty (18th, 24:44.0).

With its sixth overall MAAC title, the Gaels (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) have matched Manhattan College for the most in conference history.

Iona is back in action in two weeks (Nov. 14) as they compete for an NCAA automatic bid at the 2009 Northeast Regional Championships. This year's race takes place at Franklin Park in Boston, MA.

2009 MAAC Cross Country Championships
Van Cortlandt Park - Riverdale, NY
October 30, 2009 - 6k

Iona Finishers
Pl. Name                  Cl.    Time
1.  Anna Holm-Jorgensen   GR  22:40.9
3.  Marion Joly-Testault  FR  22:55.2
4.  Annelore Desaedeleer  GR  23:21.0
7.  Kristen Peluso        JR  23:42.8
12. Ashling Baker         SR  24:08.7
13. Heidi Gregson         SO  24:15.3
17. Chelsea Brisman       JR  24:43.3
18. Natalie Finnerty      JR  24:44.0
24. Leonie Smith          GR  24:52.2
29. Samone Brockett       SR  25:01.7
32. Siobhan Dwyer         SR  25:10.3
33. Samantha Tibbitts     SR  25:12.5
36. Chelsea Hanson        FR  25:17.2
74. Claire Halligan       SR  26:45.5
83. Erin Brady            FR  27:10.2

Team Scores
Pl. School         Pts
1.  Iona College    27
2.  Marist          56
3.  Canisius        66
4.  Loyola          94
5.  Rider          144
6.  Fairfield      157
7.  Manhattan      214
8.  Niagara        243
9.  Siena          258
10. Saint Peter's  261

Top 20 Performers
Pl. Name                  Cl. School           Time
1.  Anna Holm-Jorgensen   GR  Iona College  22:40.9
2.  Addie DiFrancesco     SO  Marist        22:51.8
3.  Marion Joly-Testault  FR  Iona College  22:55.2
4.  Annelore Desaedeleer  GR  Iona College  23:21.0
5.  Maura Frauenhofer     JR  Canisius      23:34.1
6.  Christine Mulvihill   SO  Canisius      23:42.2
7.  Kristen Peluso        JR  Iona College  23:42.8
8.  Brittany Burns        SR  Marist        23:53.2
9.  Kathryn Sheehan       SO  Marist        23:54.6
10. Amanda Bossi          JR  Loyola        23:59.5
11. Stephanie Gibney      SO  Loyola        24:01.3
12. Ashling Baker         SR  Iona College  24:08.7
13. Heidi Greggson        SO  Iona College  24:15.3
14. Chelsea Callan        JR  Rider         24:26.7
15. Jessica Nowak         SR  Canisius      24:30.1
16. Jackie Gamboli        FR  Marist        24:38.6
17. Chelsea Brisman       JR  Iona College  24:43.3
18. Natalie Finnerty      JR  Iona College  24:44.0
19. Samantha Garnet       SR  Canisius      24:44.1
20. Emily Doucette        SO  Loyola        24:44.5
24. Leonie Smith          GR  Iona College  24:52.2
29. Samone Brockett       SR  Iona College  25:01.7
32. Siobhan Dwyer         SR  Iona College  25:10.3
33. Samantha Tibbitts     SR  Iona College  25:12.5
36. Chelsea Hanson        FR  Iona College  25:17.2
74. Claire Halligan       SR  Iona College  26:45.5
83. Erin Brady            FR  Iona College  27:10.2