Pride Cross Country Shows Progress at Bruce Kirsh Cup
HOPKINTON, N.H. – Several members of the Regis College cross country team competed against runners representing Division I and Division II programs at the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup, hosted Friday, Oct. 13, by Franklin Pierce University at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.
Libby Parker (Bow, N.H.) posted the fastest five-kilometer time among the Regis women, finishing in 43rd place overall with a time of 22:13.0. She crossed the finish line in the same exact position she did at this event two years ago, but completed the course almost 50 seconds quicker, and she earned a season-best mark by close to 25 seconds.
Annabelle Jean-Philippe (Randolph, Mass.) also posted a personal season-best time of 23:36.5, crossing the finish line in 56th place overall. Katie Kelley (Stoneham, Mass.) completed the five-kilometer course in 24:38.2, good enough for 63rd place overall.
On the men's side, Benjamin Happenny (Woonsocket, R.I.) again led the Pride, finishing in 56th overall with an eight-kilometer time of 28:27.9, just 10 seconds off his mark at this event two years ago. Zach Sigman (Buffalo, N.Y.) was close behind in 64th place with a time of 29:05.6, two seconds faster than his mark in the 2021 edition of this race.
Ezekial Kimani (Auburn, Mass.) completed his first collegiate cross country race in 91st place with an eight-kilometer time of 35:46.9. Chris Margiatto (Suffield, Conn.) finished right behind Kimani in 92nd place with a personal eight-kilometer best time of 35:56.6.
Division I school Merrimack College won both the men's and women's team events, with competition from several schools within the Division II conference Northeast-10.
The Regis College cross country team will now prepare for the 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Cross Country Championships, hosted by Saint Joseph's College in Standish, Maine. On Sunday, Oct. 29, the women's six-kilometer race is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., followed by the men's eight-kilometer race at 12:15 p.m.