WOMEN'S XC EARNS FIFTH AT METS

RIVERDALE, NY - Freshmen Luci McLoughlin and Chelsea Hanson were the Iona College women's cross country team's top two finishers in a fifth place performance at the 2009 New York Metropolitan Championships at Van Cortlandt Park. McLoughlin crossed the line in the 6k event in 19:23.

Hanson's time of 19:30 was followed closely behind by junior Chelsea Brisman (19:32) in 34th place. Seniors Samone Brockett and Samantha Tibbitts rounded out the Gael scorers.

Iona finished behind Columbia, Rutgers, NYU and host Fordham. The squad's 130 team points was just eight behind Fordham and 63 ahead of sixth-place St. Johns.

The Gaels are back in action next weekend at the Pre-National Invitational Meet in Terre Haute, IN. The race is held at the LaVerne Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the site of the 2009 NCAA Championship.

New York Metropolitan Cross Country Championships
Riverdale, NY - Van Cortlandt Park
October 9, 2009 - 8k

Iona Finishers
Pl.  Name                  Time
28.  Luci McLoughlin      19:23
32.  Chelsea Hanson       19:30
34.  Chelsea Brisman      19:32
41.  Samone Brockett      19:44
53.  Samantha Tibbitts    20:02
85.  Erin Brady           21:04
108. Clare Halligan       22:12

Team Results
Pl. Team                Score
1.  Columbia               21
2.  Rutgers                60
3.  New York University    91
4.  Fordham               122
5.  Iona College          130
6.  St. John's            193
7.  Manhattan             212
8.  Seton Hall            227
9.  Hofstra               280
10. Long Island           295
11. Saint Peter's         314
12. St. Francis (NY)      327
13. Fairleigh Dickinson   357
14. Wagner                363