Providence, R.I. - The Villanova University women's cross country team won the 2009 NCAA National Championship Monday in Terre Haute, Ind. The team championship is the eighth title for the Wildcats, with the last team title coming in 1998. This is the ninth NCAA cross country title and 27th overall National Championship by a BIG EAST Team. Providence also won in 1995.
Villanova tallied 86 points, 27 fewer than second place Florida State, and placed each of its top five runners in the top 30. The Wildcats were led by junior Amanda Marino who finished sixth overall with a time of 20:03. Sophomore Sheila Reid, who was the 2009 BIG EAST Championship individual winner, came in 12th with a time of 20:17.
West Virginia came in sixth in the team standings with 259 points. Senior Clara Grandt led the Mountaineers with a time of 20:19 which placed her 13th overall. Providence (11th), Syracuse (18th), Georgetown (21st) and Notre Dame (23rd) round out the rest of the conference teams.
The Hoyas' Emily Infeld finished eighth overall with a time of 20:08.
Villanova was the top team for the BIG EAST on the men's side as well with an 11th-place finish (359 points). Syracuse was not far behind, finishing 14th with 405 points. Providence (20th), (Georgetown 22nd) and Louisville (23rd) all competed.
Georgetown senior Andrew Bumbalough finished sixth overall with a time of 29:40.
BIG EAST All-Americans
| Men |
Place |
Time |
| Andrew Bumbalough, Georgetown |
6 |
29:40 |
| Cory Thorne, Louisville |
20 |
30:06 |
| Michael Krisch, Georgetown |
29 |
30:19 |
| Mathew Mildenhall, Villanova |
32 |
30:20 |
| Tito Medrano, Syracuse |
34 |
30:21 |
| Women |
|
|
| Amanda Marino, Villanova |
6 |
20:24 |
| Emily Infeld, Georgetown |
8 |
20:08 |
| Sheila Reid, Villanova |
12 |
20:17 |
| Clara Grant, West Virginia |
13 |
20:19 |
| Bogdana Mimic, Villanova |
20 |
20:27 |
| Alison Smith, Villanova |
22 |
20:34 |
| Nicole Schappert, Villanova |
26 |
20:39 |
| Lindsey Ferguson, Notre Dame |
30 |
20:43 |
| Marie-Louise Asselin, West Virginia |
31 |
20:43 |
| Hannah Davidson, Providence |
32 |
20:43 |
| Keri Bland, West Virginia |
34 |
20:45 |
*All-Americans finished in the top 40 at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship