Nov. 15, 2007

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook women's cross country team will be traveling to Indiana State University (Terre Haute, Ind.) to compete in the NCAA Championships on Monday November, 19. This is the first time in program history that the team has qualified for the Championships and, according to Head Coach Andy Ronan, it still hasn't set in.

"We're still riding the high," said Ronan, "we're slowly coming to terms with what's ahead."

A six kilometer race with 29 other teams lining up is exactly what awaits Ronan and his eight racers. Running for the Seawolves will be senior Dana Hastie (Wellington, New Zealand), sophomore Laura Huet (Carrickmines, Ireland), freshman Lucy van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand), freshman Holly Van Dalen (Wanganui, New Zealand), sophomore Jessica Hampson (Smithtown, N.Y.), senior Kerry Salzano (Staten Island, N.Y.) and senior Elizabeth Carlson (Lincoln, R.I.). Sophomore Jacquie Kehoe (Katonah, N.Y.) will be traveling as an alternate.

Stony Brook enters the race ranked 27th overall. A ranking Coach Ronan thinks is appropriate for their first trip to the Championship.

"Out of the 30 teams lining up, if we can beat four or five, the day will have been a success.

"I want the kids to walk away from this race wanting to go back again," said Ronan. "It's a learning experience for all of us and it's something we want to start doing consistently."

And a repeat trip to the Championships is something the Seawolves have put themselves in position to do with five of the eight runners being underclassmen.

The women's NCAA Championship race starts at 12:55 pm and will be aired live on CSTV across the country.