Providence College Women's Team
2002 Cross Country Preview & Results

Ray Treacy's (Villierstown, Co. Waterford) Providence College women's team has finished in the top 10, a remarkable 12 times in the last 13 years - finishing 10th in the 2001 campaign. Treacy's team goals are the same as last year; to win the Big East Conference, qualify for the NCAA Championships and once there, earn a top 10 placing. The Friars began the 2002 season ranked 14th in the Finish Lynx NCAA Division I Cross Country Coaches' Poll. They were ranked as high as 7th (14th October) and are presently ranked 14th on the 21st October edition of the poll.

Irish steeplechase record holder Róisín McGettigan should lead the team. The Wickow runner placed 53rd in 2001 after a 145th finish in 2000. Since last fall, McGettigan has stepped up to the national level earning All-American honours in the 1,500 metres (indoors) and the 3,000m steeplechase (outdoors). Mary Cullen may challenge for the Friars top spot after a sensational spring where she won the 3,000-metre title at both the Penn Relays and ECAC Championships. Last season she was inexperienced finishing 214th at the NCCA Championships and was not near as fit as he is now.

A big variable for Providence is Heather Cappello (Lockport, New York, USA) and whether or not she can approach her form from 1999 where she was All-American (29th) and won the Northeast Regional qualifier.

Róisín McGettigan
photo by Alison Wade
New York Road Runners

Róisín McGettigan

Deirdre Byrne (Avoca, Co. Wicklow) placed 114th in 2001 and should be a solid scorer this season. Byrne along with Junior Emily Tallen's (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) performance have been identified by Coach Treacy as key to the team's achievement and ultimate success. Senior Emer O'Shea will add veteran leadership and the necessary depth for a triumphant team.

The Providence women's team was the only Irish women that qualified for the 2001 NCAA Championships.

The Providence College women's team won the Penn State National Meet scoring 51 points. The meet was held on 12th October in University Park, Pennsylvania. For the first time this season, Mary Cullen led the team placing 3rd in 21.00 (6-kilometres) followed by Róisín McGettigan (Slí Chúlainn AC) in 8th (21.26). Emer O'Shea placed 12th (21.48) with Deirdre Byrne 15th in 21.58.

Róisín Quinn was the lone representative at the New England Championships held in Boston, Massachusetts on 11th October. She placed 50th covering the 5k Franklin Park course in 18.44.

The PC ladies traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational on 28th September to race team outside of their Northeast Region. The team placed third with 112 points getting key wins against Marquette and Indiana. For the third consecutive race, Róisín McGettigan was the first home for the Friars placing 5th in 21.18 with Cullen two places and three ticks behind in 21.21 on the 6k course. A challenge for Coach Treacy is to narrow the gap between his second runner and the next three. Here, Deirdre Byrne was the third finisher placing 31st in 21.59, a full 48 seconds behind Cullen. A much-improved Emer O'Shea was within arms reach of Byrne placing 32nd in 22.00. Heather Cappello was 37th in 22.08.

In another early season tune-up, the women's team won the Dartmouth Invitational scoring 34 points with host Dartmouth in second with 55 points.

Mary Cullen
photo by T Patrick O'Dowd

Mary Cullen

The meet was held on 14th September in Hanover, New Hampshire. McGettigan won the 3.3-mile race in 19.05 with Mary Cullen finishing 4th (19.23), Deirdre Byrne (11th, 19.54) and Emer O'Shea placing 15th in 19.58.

After countless weeks of base training, the Friars women's team ran a low-key race at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Invitational on 6th September in Durham, New Hampshire. Host UNH, University of Maine and the University of Massachusetts teams provided little competition as the Providence scored a perfect 15 points taking the first five places. Róisín McGettigan won the 6-k race in 19.36 with Cullen in second in 19.39. Emer O'Shea was 4th in 20.07 with Deirdre Byrne placed 7th in 20.24 and Róisín Quinn getting 11th in 20.51.

 

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