Mitchell Men's XC Takes First in Home Meet

WATERFORD, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's cross country team and the Post University women's cross country team emerged victorious at the 2010 Mitchell College Cross Country Race on Friday afternoon at Stenger Farm Park.

Mitchell placed five runners in the top 10 to finish first in the men's standings with a team total of 27 points. Bridgeport University (38 points) placed a close second while Post (63) and Albertus Magnus College (104) completed the team scoring.

Mitchell senior John Hoffman took first place in the men's race while freshman teammate Drew Castagna came in second. Hoffman posted a time of 17:18 while Castagna was close behind at 17:46. Bridgeport runners placed third through sixth, led by freshman Jacob Bunah in a time of 18:15. Post's top finisher was freshman Tim McDonald in 10th place with a time of 20:15 while freshman Heath Henderson paced Albertus Magnus in 22:42 and finished 18th.

The women's race was closely contested, as Post (41 points) edged Bridgeport (42) by a single point in the team standings. Mitchell (57) and Albertus Magnus (72) rounded out the team scoring on the women's side.

Bridgeport's Sarah Santos-Churchill won the women's race in a time of 22:15, just 23 seconds ahead of Post junior Michelle Chadwick. Mitchell senior Brittany Smyth placed third overall in a time of 22:54 while freshman Veronica Blekis was Albertus Magnus' top finisher in sixth place at 23:30.

The distance for both the men's and women's race was 5,000 meters.