UM Cross Country Headed To BIG EAST Championships
Oct. 31, 2002
Boston, MA (hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete at the BIG EAST Championships, November 1, at Franklin Park in Boston, MA.
The men’s 8,000-meter race will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by the women’s 6,000-meter race at 12:20 p.m.
The Hurricane men, who finished 13th last season, are ranked ninth in the South Region and will face several of the nation’s top teams including No. 13 Georgetown, No. 16 Villanova and No. 17 Providence. The BIG EAST women’s field includes No. 5 Georgetown, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 14 Providence, No. 22 Villanova and No. 30 Boston College. The UM women finished 12th at last season’s BIG EAST Championships.
Senior Dan Boniface (Seattle, WA) and junior Matt Mulvaney (South Hadley, MA) have led the UM men this season guiding the Hurricanes to three top-5 finishes in its opening four meets this season including two victories.
UM won its first meet of the season finishing first at the UCF Invitational on September 6th. Boniface recorded his first career individual victory while Mulvaney finished second.
Mulvaney has been the Hurricanes’ top finisher in the last three meets including his first career win on October 19 in a tri-meet against Florida International and Florida Memorial. Mulvaney and Boniface have finished 1-2 in every meet this season.
The Hurricanes have also received strong performances from newcomers Alex Brutvan (Boca Raton, FL/Pope John Paul II) and James Mullaly (Ellicott City, MD). Brutvan has been the Hurricanes’ third top finisher at every meet this season while Mullaly has been UM’s fourth best finisher.
The University of Miami women’s cross country team has recorded two top-4 finishes in three meets this season including a victory on October 19 in a tri-meet against Florida International and Florida Memorial.
UM has been led this season by sophomore Marilyn Ruiz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas). Ruiz has been UM’s top finisher in two of the meets including a first-place finish against FIU and Florida Memorial.
Senior Melissa Norris (Pembroke Pines, FL/Flanagan) has also been strong finishing 19th overall (2nd on UM) at the UCF Invitational on Sept. 6. Norris was the Hurricanes’ top finisher (46th overall) at the Gator Invitational on October 5.
Senior Saraque Whittaker (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) has also been a bright spot for UM finishing 50th overall (2nd on UM) at the Gator Invitational, and second overall to Ruiz at the tri-meet on October 19.
