Women's Cross Country Posts Highest Finish Ever at UAA

Violets Finish Best-Ever Third at Competition

Keller was a top-10 finisher and earned UAA Rookie of the Year honors.

The New York University women's cross country team produced a best-ever third place finish at the University Athletic Association Championship, which was held Saturday in Hunting Valley, OH.

Prior to head coach Nick McDonough taking over the program a year ago, the best the Violets had ever done at the UAA was a fourth-place finish in 2003.

The Violets' #1 runner, Joan Kanarkiewicz, again led the NYU pack. She posted a fourth-place finish with a time of 23:40.14 over the muddy 6,000-meter course at Squire Valleevue Farm.

"It was a tremendous performance by Joan, especially running in cold, windy, wet conditions" McDonough said. "She was able to stay up in front the entire race."

Washington University's Taryn Surtees won the race in a time of 22:42.08 as the Bears won the team title, as well, with 37 points.

Host Case Western Reserve University placed second with 59 points, while the third-place Violets totaled 73 points.

Kanarkiewicz was not alone in lifting the Violets to their rarefied air, as freshman Kirsten Keller contributed a ninth-place finish (24:02.22) and was selected UAA Rookie of the Year.

"Kirsten was caught in the back at the beginning and did not get out well, but she continued to move her way up," McDonough explained. "She did a great job."

NYU also produced two more top-20 finishers, as Maeve Evans (12th place, 24:18.44) and Kerra Vick (18th place, 24:25.18) added noteworthy performances.

"Maeve was our MVP of the race," McDonough said. "Compared to where she finished last year (69th place), this performance was outrageous. The best race of her life."

The Violets' fifth scorer was Paige Zelinsky, who took 30th place with a time of 24:26.51).

The Violets, who finished in last place at the UAA in each of the previous four seasons, are currently ranked 28th in the nation by the USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association). Washington (#7) and Case Western Reserve (#11) are both ranked ahead of the Violets, as is Brandeis University (#26). The Judges finished in fourth place behind the Violets with 100 points on Saturday.

"Our top seven are all underclassmen and all return next year," McDonough revealed. "That bodes well for our future in this event."

The Violets will now prepare for the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship in Geneseo, NY, on Saturday, Nov. 14.