By Demetrius Young
Sophomore Stephen McNamara of the men’s cross country team charged 8,000 meters through six inches of blizzard-like conditions to finish 11th at the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Championships in York, Pa.
McNamara helped secure the Blazers to a fourth-place team finish. Following close behind McNamara were Dan Jacobs (16th) and Brett Shelley (22nd).
Completing the team scoring were Matt Dyjack and Dave Gudeman, 49th and 50th respectively and competitively in the 94-runner field. With the excellence of McNamara (29:58) it earned him designation as an all-CAC runner.
McNamara is the second runner in Hood history to gain the honor. Teammate Dan Jacobs was the initial first last year.
Dan Jacobs narrowly missed a second all conference designation by less than two seconds. Bret Shelley dived into the finish chute head-first to hold off four other runners.
Jordan Acton and Justin Cifuentes completed the Blazers’ top seven. Also competing for Hood were Chris Catalfamo, Demetrius Young, Will Beighley and Nathan Dubell.
Freshman Gretchen Whitesell and sophomore team captain Alyssa Peterson of the Hood College women’s cross country team ran 6,000 meters through six inches of snow to finish in the top 10 at the Capital Athletic Conference Championships contested inYork,Pa.
The duo helped the Blazers to a fourth place team finish. Whitesell placed eighth in 26:51, the highest finish ever for a Hood cross country runner at the CACs, Peterson came in 10th.
Senior cross country runner Joanna LaBoue finished 24th, freshman Alexandra Dystant placed 33rd and sophomore Lauren Roesch completed the team scoring in 36th place in the 89 runner field.
The performances of Whitesell and Peterson earned them designations as all-CAC runners. The 99 team points scored by the Blazers represented their best team total ever at the championships.
Julie Barnett finished 40th and Caitlin Bean 48th to complete the Blazers’ top seven. Also competing for Hood were: Heather Silveira, Jessica Zambreny and Sophie Grizzle.
Grizzle, who has run consistently in the top seven, ended her run when she fell and slid into a wooden post on the course, injuring her shin.
Whitesell concluded a stellar day by being selected by the league coaches as the CAC “Rookie of The Year.”
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