SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Cross Country team kicked off its season Friday afternoon at the Bryant University Invitational. Though no team scores were kept, the women held their own as the only Division III team in a field of Division I teams.
Though it was a tough day in terms of weather, as the course was already rain-soaked and torn up by the time the men were done racing, the Hawks made a strong showing.
Leading the way for the Hawks was Liliana Rutler (Wyckoff, N.J.), who completed the 5-kilometer course in 21:14, good for 18th place out of the 55 women competing. Next to cross the line were freshmen Kristen St. Pierre (Dracut, Mass.) and Vanessa Camiolo (Doylestown, Pa), placing 25th and 28th with times of 21:49 and 22:04, respectively.
One of the more impressive performances according to Head Coach Sean Livingston came from junior Jessica Kraiza (North Granby, Conn.), who made her cross country debut with a 30th place finish with a time of 22:10.
“Jessica Kraiza may have had the race of the day, running in not only her first collegiate cross country race, but her first cross country meet ever,” said Livingston. “I was impressed with her finish today and to be the #4 scorer was fantastic.”
Fellow junior Lauren Ashby (Manchester, N.H.) followed close behind in 22:31, good for 34th, while senior Samantha Buechner (Nashua, N.H.) and sophomore Alexandra Honkala (South Royalton, Vt.) rounded out the scoring, placing 37th and 38th with identical times of 22:42.
Both Ashby and Buechner ran over 40 seconds faster this year than last year at this race, while Honkala also made her cross country debut with a strong race to round out the varsity, according to Livingston.
Roger Williams looks to keep the momentum going next Saturday at the Hawks host the RWU Invitational at Colt State Park.
Place Runner - Time
18 Rutler, Liliana - 21:14.33
25 St. Pierre, Kristen - 21:49.15
28 Camiolo, Vanessa - 22:04.57
30 Kraiza, Jessica - 22:10.74
34 Ashby, Lauren - 22:31.08
37 Buechner, Sam - 22:42.10
38 Honkala, Alex - 22:42.83
39 Crowley, Katie - 22:45.02
43 O'Koren, Katie - 23:32.73
45 Groseclose, Nina - 24:15.77
49 Needham, Michele - 25:57.14
