Sept. 5, 2008
VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross country teams started the 2008 season off on the right foot, as the women took first and the men finished second at the Crusader Open, hosted by Valparaiso, Friday.
The women’s squad took home the first-place trophy for the second straight year with 19 points, as seven of the top nine spots went to the Irish.
Sophomore Marissa Treece crossed the finish line first in 17:42 with Irish junior Lindsey Ferguson in second with a time of 17:54. Junior Beth Tacl finished fourth in 18:20 and sophomore Theresa Cattuna was fifth with a time of 18:30. Senior Becca Bauman was just five seconds back in seventh, senior Emily Wauford finished eighth in 18:39 and sophomore Elizabeth McMahon finished in 18:49 to finish ninth.
Sophomore Abby Higgins clocked in at 19:06 to finish 11th, junior Molly Sullivan finished 14th in 19:17 and sophomore Erica Watson was 19th with a time of 19:32. Sophomore Alexis Nordine finished 34th in 20:26.
“It’s a good start,” women’s head coach Tim Connelly said. “The student-athletes did just what we asked them to.”
The men finished second with 47 points, just behind Loyola with 22.
Senior Kevin Veselik was the first Irish runner to cross the line in fifth place in 19:48. Freshman Kelly Lynch finished sixth with a time of 19:52. The Irish took the 11th – 14th spots, led by sophomore Spencer Carter in 20:11. Freshman William Cernanec was 12th with a time of 20:11, senior Kevin McFadden finished 13th in 20:19 and freshman Trevor Waliszewski was 14th with a time of 20:20. Sophomore Thomas Noel rounded out the Irish runners in 25th with a time of 20:49.
“We were okay today,” head coach Joe Piane said. “It’s still very early in the season, but we’re headed on the right track.”
Both teams will have two weeks off before Notre Dame hosts the National Catholic Championships Sept. 19.
Complete Results in PDF Format 
Crusader Open
Sept. 5, 2008
Valparaiso, Ind. – Sunset Hills Farm
MEN’S 6,000-METER FINAL Team results: 1. Loyola 22; 2. NOTRE DAME 47; 3. Valparaiso 75; 4. St. Joseph 123; 5. Wisconsin-Green Bay 128 Individuals (top five of 60 plus Notre Dame finishers): 1. Danny Doherty (Loyola) 19:31; 2. Ben Reifenberg (Loyola) 19:35; 3. Chris Honig (Valparaiso) 19:39; 4. Ryan Kuphall (Loyola) 19:39; 5. Kevin Veselik (Notre Dame) 19:48; 6. Kelly Lynch (Notre Dame) 19:52; 11. Spencer Carter (Notre Dame) 20:11; 12. William Cernanec (Notre Dame) 20:11; 13. Kevin McFadden (Notre Dame) 20:19; 14. Trevor Waliszewski (Notre Dame) 20:20; 25. Thomas Noel (Notre Dame) 20:49
WOMEN’S 4,000-METER FINAL Team Results 1. NOTRE DAME 19; 2. Loyola 59; 3. Western Michigan 77; 4. Valparaiso 107; 5. Wisconsin-Green Bay 120; 6. St. Joseph 182
Individuals (top five of 61 plus Notre Dame finishers) 1. Marissa Treece (Notre Dame) 17:42; 2. Lindsey Ferguson (Notre Dame) 17:54; 3. Colleen Donovan (Loyola) 18:09; 4. Beth Tacl (Notre Dame) 18:20; 5. Theresa Cattuna (Notre Dame) 18:30; 7. Becca Bauman (Notre Dame) 18:35; 8. Emily Wauford (Notre Dame) 18:39; 9. Elizabeth McMahon (Notre Dame) 18:49; 11. Abby Higgins (Notre Dame) 19:06; 14. Molly Sullivan (Notre Dame) 19:17; 19. Erica Watson (Notre Dame) 19:32; 34. Alexis Nordine (Notre Dame) 20:26
–ND–