Pride Cross Country Runs in Wellesley Invitational
WELLESLEY, Mass. – A record-setting performance by JJ Pedersen (Milford, Conn.) highlighted Regis College's participation in the season-opening Wellesley Invitational, as both the men and the women finished in third place in their respective team standings Friday evening at the Nehoiden Golf Course.
Pedersen finished fourth overall in the men's five-kilometer race with a time of 17:11.2, over 35 seconds faster than the previous best time posted by a Regis runner on the Wellesley course. He also posted the overall fastest five-kilometer time by a Pride competitor, completing the event over 15 seconds quicker than Stephen McCall's mark of 17:27 at the 2015 Roger Williams Invitational at Colt State Park in Bristol, R.I.
Gustavo Novelle-Ruddy (Boston, Mass.) was Regis' next finisher, crossing the finish line in 15th place in 19:21.2. AJ Corso (Broad Brook, Conn.) started his collegiate running career with a time of 19:46.8 to finish in 18th place.
Nicholas Sahagian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) finished in 23rd place with a time of 20:27.6, followed by Noah Ryan (Stockton, Calif.) in 24th place in 20:33.7 and Michael Carroll (Lynn, Mass.) in 26th place in 21:13.4. As a team, the Pride men finished third with 80 points, ahead of GNAC rival Lasell's 92 points but behind team champion Brandeis with 22 points and second place Wentworth with 45 points.
In the women's five-kilometer event, Ashleigh Kelley (Stoneham, Mass.) was Regis' top finisher, completing the course in 20:20.4 to finish in 11th place, over 38 seconds quicker than her time in this event last year. Maddie Boucias (Buckland, Mass.) finished in 14th place with a time of 20:39.7, followed by Maggie Mann (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) in 16th place in 20:53.6.
Erin Kelley (Stoneham, Mass.) was the next finisher for the Pride, ending up in 21st place with a time of 22:17.9. Lizzy Melvin (Southington, Conn.) completed the course in 24:37.5 to finish in 27th place. The Pride women combined for 79 points to finish in third place, in front of Lasell's 109 points but behind a close competition at the top, won by Wellesley with 27 points over Brandeis' 31 points.
The Regis cross country teams are back in action next Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Endicott Invitational to be held at Bradley Palmer State Park in Essex County, Mass.