Oct. 31, 2009

Women's Race Video
Sheila Reid Interview

Photo Gallery 

KENOSHA, Wis. - On a cold, windy Saturday morning on the Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis., the No. 2 women's cross country squad won the 2009 BIG EAST Championship, their 12th in team history. The Wildcats pushed through tough conditions, including thick mud and standing water, but dominated the race, winning by a margin of 44 points.

This is the second consecutive year that the Wildcats have claimed the title. They last won back-to-back conference titles in 1993-1994, where the `Cats won six straight titles dating back to 1989.

Villanova won the title with ease earning 30 team points, while fourth-ranked West Virginia finished second with 74. Syracuse came in third with 84 team points.

Junior Sheila Reid lead the way for the team for the third consecutive race this season, proving that she is truly among the best in the NCAA. Reid crossed the finish line in 20:46 to earn her first BIG EAST individual title. This was the first individual title for the Wildcats since Frances Koons took home the crown in 2006.

Right behind Reid was classmate, Amanda Marino who finished in 20:52 for second place. Marino continues to display her consistency and toughness in races when it counts the most.

Bogdana Mimic continued her outstanding sophomore season to finish in fourth, and improve upon her fifth place finish from last year. Mimic clocked in at 21:14.

The key performance of the day had to go to freshman Brooke Simpson. In the past two races, Simpson had consistently been the seventh scorer for the team, but she stepped up her game as Villanova's fourth scorer to have her best race, finishing in 21:44 placing 11th overall to help seal the win for the Villanova women.

In only her second race of the season, junior Ali Smith was right behind her teammate, also crossing the finish line in 21:44.

Seniors Kaitlyn Tallman and Nicole Schappert placed 20th and 22nd respectively to displace several other teams' top five runners. Each outran the fourth and fifth scorers on West Virginia's second-place team. Tallman clocked in at 21:56, while Scappert finished in 22:05.

Each Villanova runner earned All-BIG EAST honors by placing in the top 25.

"I am so proud of how tough they were in these conditions today," head coach Gina Procaccio said. "It was so great to see Brooke Simpson and Ali Smith step up and help us seal the title. Today was, by far, a total team effort with everyone stepping up. This win gives us confidence to know that we can run with anyone in the country."

The Wildcats will turn their focus to the Mid-Atlantic Regional, hosted by Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 14.

For recaps and complete results visit Championship Central