Williamstown’s Anna Sasse, Washington Township’s Allyson Wernik and Seneca’s Amanda McNally recorded top-10 finishes Saturday as the Rowan women edged Stockton by six points to win the Philadelphia Metropolitan Cross Country Championships.
Sasse, a junior, placed 2nd in 20:17.8 over 5,000 meters at Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, finishing just behind overall winner Kayla Kass of Stockton.
Clearview’s Aubrey Donahue from Immaculata University in East Whiteland Township in Chester County, Pa., in her 2nd collegiate race, placed 5th overall in 20:41.4.
Wernik ran 20:53.9 for 7th and McNally 21:00.7 for 9th for Rowan, which topped Stockton 39-45. Rowan and Stockton women took 10 of the first 16 spots in a field of over 100 runners. Jefferson of Philly was 3rd with 85 points.
Two other Williamstown graduates – sophomores Mackenzie Saber and Gianna Burgio – also raced for the Profs as well as Ocean City’s Issy Smith, also a sophomore. Saber placed 18th in 21:50 and was Rowan’s 5th runner, Burgio ran 22:31 and placed 27th and Smith was 30th in 23:01.
Also in Rowan’s top seven were senior Mia Guerra from Hasbrouck Heights [4th in 20:28], sophomore Abbey Churchill of Indian Hills [20th in 22:03] and soph Gabriella Pagano of Pope John XXIII [23rd in 22:17].
For Stockton, Shawnee graduate Madelyn Valasek placed 10th overall and was the Ospreys’ 3rd finisher in 21:00.9.
Stockton is ranked 3rd in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division 3 Metro Region, and Rowan is No. 7.
Holy Family freshman Maya Harper of Pleasantville placed 24th in 22:22.1 and was the Tigers’ second finisher.
Jefferson placed 3rd with junior Olivia Monahon of Woodstown the Rams’ 4th finisher in 26th in 22:29.4, and junior Sarah Brennan of Pitman was Jefferson’s 6th runner in 34th overall at 23:09.4.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 