Cross Country Takes Ninth at NCAA Regionals; Boots Places Fourth

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Led by sophomore Randelle Boots' fourth place finish, the Wellesley College cross country team posted a ninth place finish at the 2010 NCAA New England Regional at Williams College.

Boots recorded a time of 22:23.6 in the six-kilometer race, finishing behind only three runners.  Her finish sends her to next week's NCAA Championships, the second year in a row she has qualified for the national meet.  Jennifer Gossels of Williams took first (21:42.7), followed by Paige Mills (21:49.7) of Keene State and Ali Simeone (22:16.3) of Amherst.  A total of 336 competitors finished the race.

Joining Boots with All-Region honors was Camille Basurto, who took 22nd overall in a time of 23:07.1.  It is the first All-Region honors for the sophomore, who narrowly missed a possible at-large bid to the national meet. 

This year's team notched Wellesley's best placing and score at Regionals since 2005. In addition, Boots recorded Wellesley's best individual placing at the meet since 1989.

Also scoring for Wellesley were Cristina Lucas who took 54th in 24:00.8, Molly Shanley who placed 59th in 24:06.5 and Leah Clement who took 80th in 24:35.6.  Jane Lodwick (104th- 25:12.9) and Margaret Wehner (130th- 24:34.0) also ran for the Blue, with Lodwick earning a 6K personal best.

The 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place next Saturday at 12:00pm.  Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) serves as the host.