September 26, 2009

BRYANT CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS PLACE THIRD AT TED OWEN

MEN'S RESULTS / WOMEN'S RESULTS

Freshman Deirdre Doyle captured the overall title at Saturday's Ted Owen Invitational hosted by Central Connecticut.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Bryant University freshman standout Deirdre Doyle (Carlow, Ireland) placed first overall individually to help lead the Bryant women's cross country team to a third-place finish at Saturday's Ted Owen Invitational hosted by Central Connecticut.  The Bryant men also placed third overall at the meet behind David Hurley's eighth-place finish overall.

Competing for the first time this fall, Doyle took the overall individual title with an amazing time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds over the 5-kilometer course.  She finished 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Niamh Ryan of Rhode Island who crossed the line in 18:25. 

"We had a very successful day," said a pleased coach Stephanie Reilly.  "Deirdre ran an outstanding race and earned an impressive race."

Freshman Megan Robertson was the next Bulldog to cross the line, finishing 13th overall in 19:17 while Molly Tower (20:33) was 22nd and Kathrijn Moulin was 26th in 21:13.

The men were led by David Hurley, a freshman from Ashaway, RI and Chariho High School who placed eighth overall in a time of 26:48 over the 8K course.  Hurley is off to a great start to the season, placing ninth at the Bryant Invite and 38th at the Quinnipiac Invite last weekend.

Junior Scott Twardowski took home 16th overall in a time of 27:39 while Ben Coughlin, Chris Kelleher and Ryan Busby were 18, 19, and 20th respectively.

"Both team's performed wonderfully at the meet," added Reilly.  "They are progressing every week as we prepare for the NEC Conference Championships later in October."