Fact Sheet
The Rowan University women’s cross country team enters the 2012 season as the defending New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Champion. The Profs won the conference title, ending The College of New Jersey’s 16 year streak. In 2011, Rowan finished fourth at the NCAA Atlantic Regional and 26th at the NCAA Division III Championships. The women’s cross country team won the Salisbury Fall Classic, Fordham Fiasco and Collegiate Track Conference (CTC) Championships.
“We have a lot more depth than last year,” said head coach and NJAC Coach of the Year Ringo Adamson. “I think the gap between our first and fifth runners will be much smaller. There are a lot of runners that can step up and perform. It’s a matter of training hard and them believing in themselves. We have a good team chemistry and the athletes want to achieve as a team. This is one of the best groups I’ve coached. We’re not used to convenience, we do things the hard way and that is what makes us so tough.”
Vanessa Wright (jr. Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Mem.) was the individual winner at the conference championships with a season best time of 21:10.67. She was named the NJAC Runner of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. She took third at the NCAA Atlantic Regional in 21:58.5. Wright won the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational with at time of 21:40. She was chosen the NJAC Runner of the Week twice.
“Wright is an excellent runner,” stated Adamson. “Her talent and racing experience are invaluable to our team. She exemplifies speed and endurance combined. When she is fine tuned, you can’t find a smoother runner. She will float through the air.”
Tri-captain Danielle Czohla (sr. Lafayette, NJ/High Point Reg.) is back for her final season. Last year, injuries limited her to two meets. She took 17th (16:19) at the Dickinson Invitational (4K) and ran a time of 24:31 at the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational (6K). Meghan Borz (jr. Buena, NJ/Buena Reg.) is coming off a strong sophomore campaign. She captured seventh place with a season best time of 22:41.42 at the NJAC Championships for All-Conference first team honors. Borz finished 54th (23:26.6) at the NCAA Atlantic Regional. She had a sixth place (19:14.05) at the CTC Championships (5K) and came in eighth (20:02.41) at the Fordham Fiasco (5K).
“Czohla had a breakthrough year in track,” commented Adamson. “She is ready for a great cross country season. She is a strong runner that is passionate about the sport and leads by example. Borz has been getting consistently better each year. She went home this summer and refocused. Borz started eating right and taking running seriously and it shows.”
Tri-captain Joy Hanke (sr. Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and Catherine Nolan (so. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) ran at the 2011 NCAA Championships. They both produced season best times with 22:42.11 and 23:45.75 respectively. At the conference championships, Hanke was 13th (23:13.33) for her third straight NJAC All-Conference second team honor. She took 49th (23:23.1) at the NCAA Atlantic Regional. Nolan came in 16th (23:46.00) at the NJAC Championships and 88th (24:13.9) at the regional. She was selected the NJAC Rookie of the Week once.
“Hanke has always been a consistent performer and in the top five,” remarked Adamson. “Her attitude and work ethic make her a great runner. Nolan was in our top seven as a freshman. I am looking for her to have more confidence this year. If she does, she will have a breakthrough season. Nolan has the ability to do it.”
Also returning for the Profs are tri-captain Grace Kaler (jr. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills), Brenda Mendez (so. Glassboro, NJ/Delsea Reg.), Gabby Prendergast (jr. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.), Samantha Stapleton (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and Priscila Antuna (jr. Waretown, NJ/Southern Reg.). Kaler was 23rd (24:02.00) at the NJAC Championships. Mendez’s top time (24:36) came at the Salisbury Fall Classic. Prendergast only ran in three meets. She had a season best time of 24:31.24 for 31st at the conference championships. Prendergast was 19th (20:20.07) at the CTC Championships (5K). Stapleton was 30th (24:28.41) at the NJAC Championships. She came in 20th (20:24.04) at the CTC Championships (5K). Antuna crossed the finish line in 25:25.43 for 41st at the conference championships.
“Kaler has been sidelined with injuries,” continued Adamson. “She is a very good organizer and loves the sport. Mendez had a solid freshman year and I think she will be a contributor to the team. Prendergast was out most of last season due to injuries but she is back strong. I look for her to be a top performer. She is tough. Stapleton has always shown a lot of promise and ran well in track. Antuna is in great shape and ready for a strong year.”
Deana Wood (fr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) is running cross country for the first time. Rookies Vanessa Valdes (fr. Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack), Onyi Obelle (fr. Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack), Lisa Leszcynski (fr. Trenton, NJ/Robbinsville), Kristen Abitante (fr. Upper Saddle River, NJ/Northern Highland Reg.), Ayanna Lyons (fr. Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) and Christina Ricci (fr. Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) will provide depth.
“Wood could be the biggest surprise of the year, considering she never ran cross country or track and field in high school,” said Adamson. “The incoming freshmen are a very talented class. I think some of them will be able to step up and make an impact on the team. They are strong and can help move the program forward.”
Rowan began the 2012 campaign by winning the Salisbury Fall Classic (Sept. 1). Czohla took first place overall with a time of 22:21. Borz followed second in 22:26. Wood and Hanke captured 10th (23:16) and 22nd (23:41) respectively. Prendergast was 25th (23:54) and Stapleton came in 32nd (24:15). Czohla was named the NJAC Runner of the Week and Wood collected Rookie of the Week honors.
The Profs will compete at the Fordham Fiasco in Bronx, NY on Saturday, September 8. The women’s cross country team travels to North Dartmouth, MA for the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, September 15. Rowan will participate in the Lehigh Paul Short Invitational on Friday, September 28. The Princeton University Invitational is on Saturday, October 13. The Profs host the CTC Championships at Gloucester County College in Sewell, NJ on Saturday, October 20. The NJAC Championships are at Richard Stockton College in Galloway, NJ on Saturday, October 27. On Saturday, November 10, Rowan will run at the NCAA Atlantic Regional in Rochester, NY. The national championships are on Saturday, November 17 in Terre Haute, IN.
