Cross country combats unfriendly weather at NCAA Regionals

Jim Pierce

Northeastern men’s cross country team leads the pack at a previous season meet.

The Northeastern women and men’s cross country teams finished in 25th and 26th place at the NCAA Regional Championships Saturday in Buffalo, New York.

The weather did not cooperate, head coach Cathrine Erickson explained.

“The conditions were extremely brutal, snowy, muddy and 20 degrees plus wind chill made it so cold it was extremely difficult, especially running with very thin layers on,” she said.

Second-year Louiza Wise led the way for the women, finishing in 47th place with a time of 22:47. Fourth-year Brooke Wojeski finished next in 94th place with a time of 23:25. Fourth-year Kerri Ruffo, third-year Camila Cortina and first-year Grace Bugara followed with times of 23:44, 24:09 and 24:54.

Third-year Dan Romano placed first out of the Husky men, finishing in 27th place in the 10K with a time of 32:43. Fourth-year Daniel Condon finished in 135th place with a time of 34:38. Second-year Chance Lamberth finished next for the Huskies with a time of 34:54. First-year Joshua Holihan finished at 35:25 and first-year Tyler Miller rounded out Northeastern’s top five with a time of 36:52.

“I think the team did pretty well,” Condon said. “We’re a really young team, so I think the big important piece for this race is everyone learn how to move on from it. It was the best competition we faced all year, so it was definitely a good learning experience for the team and we all tried our best our there.”

The Huskies travel to New York again this weekend as they head to Bronx for the IC4A/ECAC Championships.

“I think we definitely have the talent to [win],” Condon said. “It’d be a really nice way to finish off the season with a championship, so that’d be pretty cool and it’d be a good transition into the track season.”