Loyola women capture Radisson Hotel Wolfpack Invitational

Posted: September 13, 2009 for Cross Country and Track

Metairie, La. The host Loyola women took the team title with 26 points in the Inaugural Radisson Hotel Wolfpack Invitational on a rainy Saturday morning at Lafreniere Park.

Hannah Dougherty paced Loyola in her collegiate debut- placing fourth. The freshman from Seattle completed the five kilometer course in a time of 21:51. Dougherty finished 15 seconds behind the women’s individual winner Elizabeth Kelly of the Catch 22 Running Club. Kelly had a time of 21:36. Xavier’s Ebony Harding was the first collegiate runner to cross the line. She ran a time of 21:47 for second place.

Other competitors for the Wolfpack included Lauren Fereday 24:37 (10th), Annelise Rickert 24:39 (11th), Madeline Falcone 25.22 (16th), Clare Hearns 25:26 (17th), Jenna Knoblach 26:22 (22nd), Joilynn Hollies 27:23 (23rd), and Olivia Taylor 28:13 (27th). Hearns and Knoblach also made their Wolfpack debuts this morning. Rickert’s 24:39 was a personal best.

Xavier’s women finished second with 29 points.

On the men’s side, Xavier ran away with the title scoring 21 points with the first four scoring runners crossing the line wearing the black and gold.

Unattached runner Andy Florek blistered the five kilometer course in a time of 17:13. Xavier’s Mark Dotson was second with a time of 18:33. Three more Xavier runners followed across the line with Matt Pieri (18:45) third, Raymond Watson (18:52) fourth, and Darren Wallace (19:12) fifth to all but secure the team title.

Belhaven was second in the men’s meet with 59 points just two points ahead of Loyola, who finished third with 61. Mobile was fourth with 101 points and Dillard rounded out the team scoring with 126 points.

The Loyola men’s team entered 10 runners with eight making their Wolfpack debut. Loyola’s Kieran Harper was one of those running for the first time in the maroon and gold. He finished in a time of 19:21 capturing seventh. Other runners for Loyola included Parker Carignan 20:06 (12th), Alex Mayon 20:12 (14th), Galen Westerfield 20:41 (18th), Chris Graugnard 20:45 (19th), Chris Kelliher 20:57 (21st), Kenny Tsao 21:28 (25th), Alex Hall 21:53 (26th), Adam Mayon 21:55, (27th), and Justin Fecke 22:35 (30th)

In the high school boys’ race, Jesuit had the first four runners across the line as the Blue Jays captured the team title with 17 points - 28 points better than Holy Cross - as the Tigers placed second with 45 points.

Jesuit’s Fritz Metzinger won the boys title with a time of 18:15 over the five kilometer course. He was 36 seconds faster than teammate Philip Aucoin who captured second. Neal Fitzpatrick was third in a time of 19:04 and Sean Fitzpatrick was fourth in 19:07.

In the girls’ high school meet, Ehret’s Ashley Fitzhenry finished 1:08 ahead of her nearest competitor as she took the girls title. Fitzhenry ran the 5K meet in a time of 23:40. Ursuline won the girls team title with 26 points- three better than Country Day with 29 points.

Loyola’s cross country team will next compete on Saturday, September 19th at the 37th Annual Azalea City Classic in Mobile.