EWING, NJ — The College of New Jersey served as the host institution for the 2002 NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Washington Crossing Park (Titusville, NJ) as over 500 student-athlete competed in the races and ultimately produced the runners from the Atlantic Region that would advance and compete at the 2002 NCAA Division III Championships, which will take place on November 23 at St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN).

The Top four women’s teams from the regionals will advance to the national finals, as well as the top four individuals. SUNY Geneseo picked up the women’s title, besting the 29-team field. Among the top place finishers that have earned a spot at next weekend’s championships are SUNY-Geneseo, Ithaca College, TCNJ, and SUNY Cortland.

The women’s 6 k race was won by SUNY Geneseo’s senior Melissa White (Canandaigua, NY/Naples) as she posted a time of 22:34 to win the race. A second place finisher a year ago, White won this years’ race despite the rainy and muddy conditions. Second place went to SUNY Cortland’s senior Liz Ackley (Keene, NH/Keene) who posted a time of 23:04 and improved upon last year’s ninth place showing.

2002 NCAA DIVISION III ATLANTIC REGIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS PLACE
(#) TEAM    TOTAL
1 *SUNY GENESEO   62
2 *ITHACA COLLEGE  87
3 *THE COLLEGE OF N.J.  105
4 *SUNY CORTLAND   127
5 HAMILTON COLLEGE  140
6 ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY 169
7 SUNY - OSWEGO STATE  279
8 UNIV. OF ROCHESTER  297
9 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY  299
10 ROWAN UNIVERSITY  304
11 RENSSELAER POLY.INST. 330
12 CLARKSON UNIVERSITY  370
13 SUNY-PLATTSBURGH  378
14 SUNY-FREDONIA STATE  383
15 VASSAR COLLEGE  426
16 BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE 462
17 SUNY AT BROCKPORT  469
18 ROCHESTER INST.TECH. 522
19 SUNY NEW PALTZ   553
20 ALFRED UNIVERSITY  571
21 HARTWICK COLLEGE  595
22 RICHARD STOCKTON  611
23 RAMAPO COLLEGE  617
24 SUNY AT POTSDAM  624
25 WM. SMITH COLLEGE  681
26 UNION COLLEGE   728
27 WM.  PATERSON UNIV.  731
28 STEVENS INST. TECH.  798
29 BARUCH COLLEGE  837

*Indicates NCAA National Qualifying Team

The awards that will be handed out will be as follows. The Top 35 finishers for both men and women are named to the All-Atlantic Regional Team. The Top Two men’s and women’s teams received plaques and these awards are given out by the Cross Country Coaches Association.

2002 NCAA DIVISION III ATLANTIC REGIONAL WOMEN’S INDIVIDUALTEAM RESULTS
PLACE (#)   TEAM   TIME
1. Melissa White SUNY Geneseo 22:34
2. Liz Ackley  SUNY Cortland 23:04
3. *Susan Mcwilliams SUNY - Oswego St. 23:09
4. *Amanda Jinks SUNY Plattsburgh 23:15
5. Sarah Spilman TCNJ   23:15
6. *Alyson Grant Hamilton College 23:15
7. Jen Rettke  SUNY Geneseo 23:17
8. Beth Vesey  TCNJ   23:17
9. Joanna Zieno SUNY Geneseo 23:30
10. *Morgan Burrows SUNY-Fredonia St. 23:38
11. Heidi Spalholz Rochester Inst. 23:41
12. Anne Ruminski Ithaca College 23:43
13. Amy Barr  St. Lawrence Un. 23:44
14. Amanda Laytham Ithaca College 23:47
15. Julianna Allport Hamilton College 23:54
16. Kris Reale  SUNY Geneseo 23:57
17. Betsy Schultz SUNY Cortland 24:03
18. Lindsay Hyman Ithaca College 24:03
19. Rebecca Rosenberg-Beran   RPI  24:04
20. Lillian Jones  Ithaca College 24:05
21. Sharon Crow  Rowan University 24:06
22. Beth Van Alstine New York Univ. 24:07
23. Kristen Cravotta Ithaca College 24:10
24. Lindsay Scarborough TCNJ  24:11
25. Morgan Doherty St. Lawrence Un. 24:11
26. Jodie Schoppmann SUNY At Potsdam 24:12
27. Tora Olafsen  St. Lawrence Un. 24:16
28. Keely Elgethun New York Univ. 24:18
29. Sally Briggs  SUNY Geneseo 24:18
30. Becca Foulger SUNY Cortland 24:26
31. Mary Rhoads  Clarkson Univ. 24:28
32. Jennifer Zucaro TCNJ   24:29
33. Jessica Snyder Clarkson Univ. 24:33
34. Sarah Taylor  Hamilton College 24:36
35. Kelly Zilles  Ithaca College 24:37

*Indicates NCAA Individual Qualifier

On the women’s side of things, the 2002 individual qualifier for the NCAA Championships includes four athletes. Oswego State’s junior Susan McWilliams (Central Square, NY/Mexico), a tenth place finisher a year ago, took third this year in 23:09 to qualify. Joining her will be Plattsburgh State’s senior Amanda Jinks (Pavillion, NY/Pavillion) who took fourth place in 23:15 as well as Hamilton College’s junior Alyson Grant (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) who finished in sixth place (23:15) and Fredonia State’s sophomore Morgan Burrows (Lockwood, NY/Waverly) who finished in 10th place in 23:38.

TCNJ’s junior Beth Vesey (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) finished in eighth place (23:17), while fellow Lion runner junior Lindsay Scarborough (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) took 24th place in 24:11.