CCC CHAMPIONHIP: Women’s Cross Country Looks Poised For Strong Showing

DIRECTIONS | CCC PREVIEW | VIDEO PREVIEW

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's cross country team will compete in the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships on Saturday, October 31 at 12 p.m. in Bristol, R.I. The 6,000-meter course at Colt State Park will feature all nine CCC women's teams highlighted by three-time defending champion University of New England (UNE), and 2014 CCC runner-up and host Roger Williams along with Endicott.

NEED TO KNOW: Minus their season opening performance at the Roger Williams University Invitational, the Gulls have not finished behind any other program in the CCC except for UNE in any invitational (head-to-head) this season.

Endicott's gap between its top-5 runners has consistently been close to one minute and ten seconds or lower over the last four races, which will bode well for the Gulls who will look to compete for a CCC Championship title this Saturday. Since 2003, Endicott has not finished better than third overall in program history at the CCC Championships.

Freshman Abigail Keim (Williston, Vt.) has been the top-finisher for the Gulls all season long as evidenced by her four CCC Rookie of the Week accolades she has received this season. Samantha Pearl (Concord, N.H.), Lauren Tocci (Shamong, N.J.), Maeve Kelly (Washingtonville, N.Y.), and Kelly O'Neill (Cumberland, R.I.) have also been mainstays in the top-5 for the Gulls, while Kiera Malone (Woburn, Mass.), Holly Rigoli (Waltham, Mass.), and Hannah Mason (Deerfield, N.H.) have contributed solid performances to Endicott's lineup throughout the season.

THE CONTENDERS: Leading the way for the Nor'easters in this year's championship are the 2014 CCC Runner of the Year, Brittney Sorbello (1st, 23:55) and All-CCC Honorees Tiana Thomas (3rd, 23:57), Lexi Basiliere (4th, 23:58) and Angel Waters, the 2014 CCC Rookie of the Year (5th, 24:04)… Sorbello and Thomas have been named CCC Runners of the Week and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Runners of the Week during this fall campaign. 

The 2014 CCC runner-up, Roger Williams University is led by senior captains Haylee Kurkoski and Hillary Leonard… the top returning runners for the Hawks include sophomores Makayla D'Urso (12th, 25:04) and Jackie Applin (14th, 25:05) both will look to lead the team in scoring at this year's meet.

Salve Regina University, who placed third a year ago, returns All-CCC honorees Aubrey Palmquist (7th, 24:34) and Amy Irving (8th, 24:54) to lead the way for the Seahawks. A strong junior class returns to Salve Regina with four having finished in the top-25 at last year's meet. Sophomores Alexa Cipkas and Olivia Wilson, will provide some depth, both having finished in the top-20 last fall.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Check-in on the Gulls during the CCC Championships by going to their twitter account - @EndicottCC – or www.ecgulls.com or @ecgulls. 

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