TicketsOct. 29, 2011
11BEXCChampResults | Finan Interview | Zukowski Interview | Coach Schnier Interview
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Cincinnati senior Eric Finan (New Richmond, Ohio/New Richmond) ran 23:17.07 to win the 2011 BIG EAST Conference Men's Cross Country Championship, Saturday at E.P. `Tom' Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky.
Finan's title is UC's first BIG EAST individual cross country championship and the first conference crown for UC since Jeremy Bucher won the 1996 Conference USA Men's Cross Country Championship.
Finan was with the lead group from the start of the 8,000-meter race which featured a fast pace on a sunny day with little wind. Going into the last mile, it was a two-man race between Finan and Providence's David McCarthy. Finan made his move with a half mile to go, the start of a gradual downhill run to the finish line. The UC senior passed McCarthy, moved out in front and won the race by 11 seconds.
"I'm very excited," Finan said. "I came out ready to go and I really felt like I was prepared. It's a flat course so it's very quick. When David McCarthy made a move around the 5K mark, I went with him and we pulled away. He's a really fast guy so I knew I had to make my move a little early. With about half a mile to go, I made a move, he didn't respond. I just kept pushing and it worked out well."
The men's team was eighth with 218 points. Villanova (43) took the top spot, followed by Georgetown (94), Louisville (96), Syracuse (97), Providence (116), Notre Dame (119), Marquette (201), UC, DePaul (273), Connecticut (274), Rutgers (361), USF (388), Pittsburgh (390) and Seton Hall (437).
Oliver Book placed 50th with a time of 25:02.0, Ethan Baum was in 54th with his effort of 25:10.8, Kevin Fink took 56th in 25:16.4, Chase Beckmann placed 57th with his time of 25:23.6, Tyler Ross was 59th with a run of 25:43.8 and Matt Collmar finished 61st in 25:45.7. Non-scoring runners were Greg Sanders (26:08.4), Eric Hauser (26:18.5) and Rob Flannigan (26:59.8).
The women's squad placed 12th with 342 points. Villanova (54) won to complete the meet sweep. Providence (63) was second followed by Georgetown (77), Syracuse (92), West Virginia (92), Notre Dame (136), Connecticut (165), USF (249), Marquette (301), Rutgers (322), Louisville (340), the Bearcats, 13. St. John's (416), DePaul (428), Seton Hall (462) and Pittsburgh (476).
Alison Zukowski was the UC women's top finisher, placing 48th with her time of 21:45.0. The senior set her personal best time by over a minute. Emily Clay was next in, placing 54th with her effort of 22:15.3.
Lauren Goodwin was 77th (22:54.6), followed by Jill Glassmeyer in 79th (23:00.9), Kaitlyn Meyer in 84th (23:18.1), Ashley Earman in 89th (23:32.2) and Bridget Connolly in 96th (23:54.2). Non-scoring runners were Cortney Staruch (24:08.0) and Sara Knollman (24:43.1).
Next up for the Bearcats' harriers is the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 in Toledo, Ohio.