Nov. 8, 2009

Junior Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) placed seventh overall and led two teammates to All-Region honors as UMass Lowell placed second at the NCAA East Region Cross Country Championship Sunday afternoon at Franklin Park.

With the finish, the River Hawks earned a seventh straight trip to the NCAA Championship, slated for Saturday, Nov. 21 at Southern Indiana University in Evansville, IN.

UMass Lowell compiled 76 points (7, 12, 15, 20, 24 – 45, 71) and placed behind only Stonehill College who won the meet with 51 points. Adelphi (121) placed third while Southern Connecticut (155) and Philadelphia University (188) rounded out the top five.

The meet drew 178 athletes representing 32 teams. The top two teams and top individuals within the top five places – not affiliated with those teams – also qualify for the NCAA Championship.

Clark ran the 6K course in 23 minutes, 15.4 seconds to earn All-East Region honors at third consecutive year. Junior Sarah Bonomo (Tewksbury, MA), despite an upper respiratory infection, placed 12th in 23:30.9 while freshman Kelly Walton (Nahant, MA) placed 15th in 23:36.9 – both earning All-East Region status for the first time.

The River Hawks were also buoyed by senior Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA), who placed 20th in 23:48.2; and freshman Nicole Skotz (Tewksbury, MA), who placed 24th in 24:08.9.

Freshman Gina Butler (Dracut, MA) placed 45th in 24:55.4 and freshman Mary Hazen (Framingham, MA) took 71st in 25:45.7 to complete UMass Lowell’s effort.

Freshman Erin Carmone of Stonehill won the individual title, covering the course in 22:16.5.