Dooley Runs to Victory in Ted Owen Invitational
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Making her 2012 debut a successful one, Bentley University sophomore Tara Dooley (Lee, Mass./Lee HS) captured the Central Connecticut State Ted Owen Invitational Saturday at Stanley Quarter Park.
Dooley, who finished second in both the Northeast-10 and NCAA Division II East Regional women's cross country championships last year as a freshman, covered the 5,000-meter course in 17:35.84 and crossed the line nearly five seconds in front of runner-up Michelle Gaye of Marist College.
Dooley's effort, along with a top ten showing by senior Caitlin Fahey (Bridgewater, Mass./ Coyle-Cassidy HS), helped Bentley finish fifth overall in the 11-team meet, behind a quartet of Division I programs (Marist, Central, Hartford and UConn).
Fahey finished tenth in the meet, with a time of 18:41.51, and Bentley's number three runner was junior Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS). She was 18th in 19:04.11.
The other Falcon in the top 50 was freshman Samantha Albanese (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield HS), in 47th place (20:04.79). A total of 102 runners participated.
Bentley, ranked second in the East Region and 33rd nationally amongst Division II teams, will next compete in the New England Championships Oct. 7 in Westfield, Mass.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE TED OWEN INVITATIONAL
At Stanley Quarter Park, New Britain, Conn.
Team Standings: 1. Marist 35; 2. Central Connecticut State 83; 3. Hartford 116; 4. UConn 120; 5. Bentley 121; 6. Wagner 124; 7. Rhode Island 173; 8. Northeastern 177; 9. Southern Connecticut State 201; 10. Fairleigh Dickinson 309; 11. Franklin Pierce 318.
Top Individuals: 1. Tara Dooley, Bentley, 17:35.84; 2. Michelle Gaye, Marist, 17:40.46; 3. Katie Messina, Marist, 17:59.27; 4. Kristen Traub, 18:01.57; 5. Elizabeth Eberhard, Central Conn, 18:04.31.
Other Bentley Runners: 10. Caitlin Fahey, 18:41.71; 18. Ashley Nichols, 19:04.11; 47. Samantha Albanese, 20:04.79; 54. Leah Schiller, 20:15.96; 64. Sarah Brennan, 20:34.43; 76. Nikki Sirignano, 21:20.80; 89. Brittany Baudier, 21:52.12; 94. Alix Pettinella, 22:27.56; 95. Arianne Bourgault, 22:44.27; 96. Heather Hallstrom, 23:09.90.