Villanova University

Oct. 13, 2012

Complete Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Led by a strong race from junior Emily Lipari (Greenvale, N.Y.) on Saturday morning Villanova raced to a seventh place team finish at the Pre-NCAA Meet at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, which will be the host site for the NCAA Championships next month. Lipari came in seventh individually in a field of 265 runners in one of the stronger cross country races of her collegiate career.

The trio of Lipari, junior Nicky Akande (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and senior Summer Cook (Thornton, Colo.) all covered the 6,000 meter course in under 21 minutes and the Wildcats registered a team score of 273 points to tie for seventh place out of 38 teams in the seeded women's race. The result was a good one for Villanova, which raced in a field that consisted of seven other nationally-ranked squads.

Lipari crossed the finish line with a time of 20:06.9, a career best by a margin of nearly 30 seconds on a 6K cross country course. Akande came in 26th with a time of 20:36.1 and Cook placed 41st in 20:57.2. Rounding out the top five for the Wildcats were sophomores Megan Venables (Laurel Springs, N.J.) and Stephanie Schappert (Delray Beach, Fla.), who were separated by less than two seconds in 99th place (21:34.3) and 100th place (21:35.9), respectively.

Florida State scored 72 points to win the team title in the race, while Oregon (87) and Michigan (141) rounded out the top three. Georgetown (163), Texas (184) and William & Mary (266) came in fourth through sixth, respectively.

Also competing for Villanova were sophomore Courtney Chapman (Fayetteville, N.Y.) and senior Meghan Smith (Newark, Del.). Chapman came in 155th place (21:58.8) and Smith finished 165th (22:07.3).

The individual title in the race was won by Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton of Wichita State, who registered a time of 19:43.9.

Members of the Wildcats will compete at the Haverford Invitational on October 19, while the next team meet is the BIG EAST Championships on October 26 in Van Cortlandt Park.

COMPLETE RESULTS
Pre-NCAA Meet
E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park
6000 Meters

Top 10 Teams

Florida State                    72
Oregon                           87
Michigan                         141
Georgetown                       163
Texas                            184
William & Mary                   266
Villanova                        273
Colorado                         273
Florida                          308
UC Davis                         320

Villanova Individuals (Women's Seeded Race)

Emily Lipari                     7th of 265            20:06.9
Nicky Akande                     26th                  20:36.1
Summer Cook                      41st                  20:57.2
Megan Venables                   99th                  21:34.3
Stephanie Schappert              100th                 21:35.9
Courtney Chapman                 155th                 21:58.8
Meghan Smith                     165th                 22:07.3