Wellesley Cross Country Finishes as Seven Sisters Runner-Up

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Three members of the Wellesley College cross country team earned All-Seven Sisters honors, as the Blue raced to a second place finish at the 2013 Seven Sisters Championships on Saturday morning. The 5k event, hosted by Smith College, featured seven teams and 106 total competitors.

Wellesley placed seven runners in the top-20 at the event, led by sophomore Priyanka Fouda, and first-years Mary Keenan and Alice Zhou, who each earned All-Seven Sisters honors. Fouda led the way with a sixth place finish for Wellesley, covering the course in 19:30 to earn her second-straight Seven Sisters honor. Keenan and Zhou finished ninth and tenth overall, with Keenan finishing in 19:45, and Zhou clocking in at 19:46.

Wellesley also received strong performances from its final two scoring runners, first-year Sonja Cwik and sophomore Alessandra Gavin. Cwik finished 14th overall, recording a time of 19:58, while Gavin was 16th in 20:00.

Rounding out the top-seven finishers for the Blue, were sophomore Laura Brindley and junior Alexandra Dunn. Brindley's time of 20:02 placed her 17th overall, while Dunn ran a 20:11 to place 20th. 

Vassar took home the team title with 38 points, placing all scoring runners in the top-13 at the event. Wellesley's 55 points put the Blue second overall, while Smith was third with 73 points. St. Catherine took fourth place with 110 points, while Bryn Mawr was fifth with 121. Rounding out the field were Mount Holyoke (139) in sixth, and Simmons (202) in seventh.

Individually, Wellesley and Vassar each placed three on the All-Seven Sisters team, while Smith had two runners earn the honor. St. Catherine and Bryn Mawr had one each on the All-Seven sisters team, with the Owls being led by Claudia Keep, who won the individual title (for the second year in a row) in 18:24. 

Wellesley cross country will next compete at the 2013 NEWMAC Championships. The event is being hosted by Babson College at Franklin Park in Boston. The women's race will begin at 11:00am.

2013 Seven Sisters Championships
Hosted by Smith College
 
Final Standings
1. Vassar, 38
2. Wellesley, 55
3. Smith, 73
4. St. Catherine, 110
5. Bryn Mawr, 121
6. Mount Holyoke, 139
7. Simmons, 202
 
All-Seven Sisters Team
1. Claudia Keep, Bryn Mawr - 18:23.3
2. Aubree Piepmeier, Vassar - 18:52.9
3. Danielle Opatovsky, Smith - 18:59.9
4. Kate Snider, Vassar - 19:10.9
5. Ailee Larson, St. Catherine - 19:20.9
6. Priyanka Fouda, Wellesley - 19:29.4
7. Micaela Young, Smith - 19:32.8
8. Lucy Balcezak, Vassar - 19:44.5
9. Mary Keenan, Wellesley - 19:44.5
10. Alice Zhou, Wellesley - 19:45.6