University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
   Men's and Women's Cross Country  

Stories & Highlights
2003 season 

Devils Bring Home the Hardware at Cabrini Invitational (10/19/03)

After finishing ninth in last week's Goldey Beacom Classic, the USP men's cross country team "kicked it up a notch" at Saturday's Cabrini Invitational, coming away with the second place trophy, their best placing of the season, losing to host Cabrini College 28-44.

USP's top two runners took home individual trophies as well. Marc Andreotto (Sr., Brookfield HS, Brookfield, CT) finished sixth overall with a time of 30:21.35. Right behind Andreotto was Brenton Smith (Fr., Tri Valley HS/Neversink, NY). Smith finished ninth overall with a time of 31:15.89

Ryan Pell (Fr., West York HS/York, PA) narrowly missed a trophy with an 11th place finish, completing the 8000-meter course in 32:01.20. Vladimir Mezhiritskiy (Fr., Northeast HS/Philadelphia, PA) was right behind Pell in 12th place with a time of 32:22.68. Joseph Holton (So., Archbishop Ryan HS/N. Wildwood, NJ) rounded out the Devils top five with a time of 33:21.12, good enough for 15th place.

Chris Kotowski (Jr., Williamsville North/Williamsville, NY) was the sixth USP runner to finish, crossing the line in 20th place with a time of 34:48.50. Rounding out the Devils finishers were George Strock (Fr., Blue Mountain HS/Pottsville, PA), Michael Rodriguez (Jr., Sayreville War Memorial HS/South Amboy, NJ) and John Schoolmeester (Sr., Bishop McGinness HS/Greensboro, NC). Strock finished in 25th place with a time of 35:41; Rodriguez was 29th (38:18) and Schoolmeester was 31st (39:15).

"Today's race was a big confidence boost going into the conference championships next week," said Head Coach Bob Heller. "The guys turned in a solid performance and have the momentum to carry with them into the post-season."

Women Harriers Rebound to take Second at Cabrini Invitational (10/19/03)

After the USP women's Cross Country team turned in their worst performance as a team last week, the Devils were ready to rebound. Rebound they did, taking second place at Saturday's Cabrini Invitational at Belmont Plateau, narrowly losing out to Immaculata College 34-37.

Elizabeth Hay (Jr., Hempfield HS/Landisville, PA) finished in 11th place overall with a time of 22:54.79, missing a trophy by just 2.64 seconds. Dana Lulias (Fr., Bishop Shanahan HS/West Chester, PA) was just behind Hay in 15th place finishing with a time of 23:53.78, narrowly beating her teammate Amanda Reed (Fr., Haverford HS/Haverford, PA) by just .66 seconds. Reed finished 16th with a time of 23:54.44. Just 12 seconds later, Ashley Hasulak (Jr., Wolcott HS/Wolcott, CT) crossed the line in 18th place (24:06.35).

Shelby Rance (Fr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, PA) rounded out the Devils top five finishers crossing the line in 21st place with a time of 25:24.73. Jakara Woods (Sr., Curtis HS/Staten Island, NY) and Melissa Maximowicz (Jr, Bishop O'Reilly HS/Kingston, PA) were the remaining USP finishers. Woods finished in 29th place with a time of 29:40 and Maximowicz was 30th at 29:58.

"We performed well today," said Head Coach Bob Heller. "Our top runners are performing well as a unit. If we can cut the 1 to 5 gap down a bit further we could surprise a few people at the conference meet."

Men's Cross Country Team Finishes Ninth at Goldey Beacom (10/12/03)

The USP men's cross country team went into Saturday's Goldey Beacom Classic without one of their top runners who was back on campus making up a biology lab. However despite the loss, the Devils managed to finish ninth in a strong field of 16 on a tough course at Carousel Park in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Devils finished with 291 points and 66 points behind eighth place Lincoln University (225) and far behind conference rivals Wilmington College (7th place, 189) and Goldey Beacom College (2nd place, 60). The Devils did finish ahead of CACC teams Bloomfield College (11th place, 296) and Holy Family University (16th place, 350).

For the second consecutive week, the Devils were paced by senior Marc Andreotto (Sr., Brookfield HS, Brookfield, CT). Andreotto finished in 38th place overall with a time of 31:33.08. Second to cross the line for the Devils was Vladimir Mezhiritskiy (Fr., Northeast HS/Philadelphia, PA) who finished 60th overall with a time of 33:14.52

Ryan Pell (Fr., West York HS/York, PA) followed Mezhiritskiy with a time of 33:50.27 in 65th place. Six places behind Pell in 71st was Joseph Holton (So., Archbishop Ryan HS/N. Wildwood, NJ) with a time of 34:53.71. Chris Kotowski (Jr., Williamsville North/Williamsville, NY) rounded out the Devils top five finishing 86th with a time of 36:19.57.

Rounding out the Devils finishers were George Strock (Fr., Blue Mountain HS/Pottsville, PA), Michael Rodriguez (Jr., Sayreville War Memorial HS/South Amboy, NJ) and John Schoolmeester (Sr., Bishop McGinness HS/Greensboro, NC). Strock finished with a time of 36:58; Rodriguez, 40:59; and Schoolmeester 42:39.

On the women's side, the Devils ran only four runners and did not place in the team standings. Dana Lulias (Fr., Bishop Shanahan HS/West Chester, PA)was the top USP finisher with a time of 24:15.46

Times Improve as Women's Cross Country team takes Fifth at Belmont Classic (10/5/03)

Saturday's Belmont Classic saw the USP Women's Cross Country Team drop their times dramatically from last week's Metro Championship as they took fifth place amongst the 15 schools competing at the meet (11 complete teams).

The Devils finished with 146 points, just 13 behind fourth place Cedar Crest College (133). Amongst the four CACC schools competing in the meet, the Devils were first, followed by Goldey Beacom College (7th overall), Holy Family University (8th overall) and Wilmington College (10th overall).

Leading the way for USP was Elizabeth Hay (Jr., Hempfield HS/Landisville, PA). Hay finished the 5000-meter course in 25th place overall with a time of 22:54, an improvement of 1:25 over the same course a week earlier. Dana Lulias (Fr., Bishop Shanahan HS/West Chester, PA) and Amanda Reed (Fr., Haverford HS/Haverford, PA) followed in 34th and 35th place respectively with times 23:48.41 and 23:48.74. Both runners times were over two minutes faster than last week. Ashley Hasulak (Jr., Wolcott HS/Wolcott, CT) was the fourth USP runner to cross the line, finishing in 39th place with a time of 24:17, nearly a minute faster than last week. Shelby Rance (Fr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, PA) rounded out the Devils top five finishers with a time of 25:13 (46th place).

"After last week I wasn't sure what to expect," said Head Coach Bob Heller. "They have worked hard and it is starting to show with this week's performance. We need to carry this effort through the remaining meets this year"

Men's Cross Country takes Sixth at Belmont Classic (10/5/03)

The USP men's cross country team followed up their fifth place performance at last week's Metro Championship with an even stronger performance, time wise that is as each and every runner improved their times from the previous week. As a team the Devils finished sixth amongst the 15 schools competing (11 complete teams).

The Devils scored 183 points, 19 behind fifth place Lincoln University (164) and 47 behind fourth place fellow CACC member Wilmington College. (136). CACC member Goldey Beacom College was third with 61 points.

For the first time this season, senior captain Marc Andreotto (Brookfield HS/Brookfield, CT) was the first USP runner to cross the finish line. Andreotto finished 34th overall with a time of 30:42.75, his best time since his sophomore year. Brenton Smith (Fr., Tri-Valley HS, Neversink, NY) followed in 36th place with a time of 31:02.74, 1:06 faster than last week.

Joseph Holton (So., Archbishop Ryan HS/N. Wildwood, NJ) was the third USP finisher, crossing the line in 48th place at 31:43, also faster than last week. Ryan Pell followed, three places behind Holton in 51st with a time of 32:24. Right behind Pell was Vladimir Mezhiritskiy (Fr., Northeast HS/Philadelphia, PA) in 52nd place. Mezhiritskiy, making his USP debut, finished the 8000-meter course in 32:25.

"I was pleased with everyone's race today," adds Head Coach Bob Heller. "Everyone kicked it up a notch. This is first time since I've been coaching here at USP that I've had eight runners run under 40 minutes in a race."

Devils Run to a Fifth Place Finish at Metro Championships (9/28/03)

Returning to action after an off week, the USP men's cross country team took to their home course Belmont Plateau at the 25th Annual Philadelphia Metro Championships on Saturday. Starting the race with a light rain that stopped midway through, the Devils turned in their best performance of the season, a fifth place finish amongst 18 schools competing.

With 180 points, the Devils trailed champion Richard Stockton (37 points); CACC rival Felician College (50) Baptist Bible college (79) and West Chester University (95).

Leading the way for USP was Brenton Smith (Fr., Tri-Valley HS/Neversink, NY). Smith finished 32nd overall (out of 92 finishers) with a time of 32:08.52. Right behind Brenton was Marc Andreotto (Sr., Brookfield HS/Brookfield, CT) in 35th place (32:21.76). Joseph Holton (So., Archbishop Ryan HS/North Wildwood, NJ) was the third Devil harrier to cross the line, finishing in 43rd place with a time of 33:46.78. Right behind him was Ryan Pell (Fr., West York HS/York, PA) in 46th place (33:59.80).

Rounding out the Devils top five was Chris Kotowski (Jr., Williamsville North HS/Williamsville, NY). Kotowski ran his best race in nearly two injury plagued seasons finishing 62nd overall with a time of 36:08.16.

The Devils return to Belmont next weekend, participating in the Belmont Classic.

Women's Cross Country Team Struggles to Ninth Place Finish at Metro (9/28/03)

Feeling the effects of the humidity and nagging minor injuries the USP Women's Cross Country Team struggled to a ninth place finish at Saturday's Philadelphia Metro Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia.

The Devils finished with 234 points, 24 points behind 8th place Rutgers-Camden. Seventeen schools participated in the meet.

Elizabeth Hay (Jr., Hempfield HS/Landisville, PA) led the way for the Devils finishing in 52nd place overall (103 finishers) with a time of 24:19.81. Ashley Hasulak shook several nagging injuries to finish in 60th place overall (25:05.73, becoming the second Devils to cross the line.

Dana Lulias (Fr., Bishop Shanahan HS/West Chester, PA), also struggling with a leg injury was the third USP runner to finish, crossing the line in 26:08.90, good enough for 68th place. Right behind her were Amanda Reed (Fr., Haverford HS/Havertown, PA) and Shelby Rance (Fr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, PA). Reed and Rance were 69th and 70th respectively, with Reed finishing the 5000-meter course in 26:13.13 and Rance 26:25.76.

The Devils return to Belmont next weekend, participating in the Belmont Classic.

 

 

Athletics Home Page          NCAA            CACC