Women's Cross Country: Molinari wins Travis J. Fuller Invitational

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director 

BUZZARDS BAY, MASS. – The Rivier University Cross Country teams traveled down to Massachusetts Maritime Academy this afternoon for the 15th annual Travis J. Fuller Invitational at the Buzzards Bay recreational area, the beginning of the Cape Cod Canal trail. The race is run annually in honor of Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller, a cross country runner and graduate of Mass Maritime who lost his life in a helicopter accident in Iraq in 2005. In the women's 5K, the Raiders claimed third place and in the men's, Rivier finished fifth overall.

The women's race kicked off at 3:30pm with the first runner, junior Samantha Molinari of Rivier University coming across the finish line 19:31.52 later the claim first place. Junior Lauren Ferentino (Hudson, N.H.) finished the race in 11th place with her time of 23:33.64 and senior Sarah Thieme (Middletown, R.I.) was right behind her in 12th at 23:56.17. Senior Samantha Hilsman (Rehoboth, Mass.) checked in as she crossed the line at 28:01.23 for a 27th finish (23rd place) and freshman Hayli Ruiter (Hudson, N.H.) was 29th overall (24th place) at 28:39.78.

The men's team was paced by senior captain Yash Jagtap (North Andover, Mass.) who crossed the finish line of the 8k at 32:55.45 which was good enough for 17th overall (16th place). Junior Patrick Meyers (Wolfboro Falls, N.H.) was the next Raider to cross the line at 34:13.40 as he claimed the 20th overall finisher and the 17th place. Freshmen Javier Carrasco-Alvarez (Madrid, Spain) and T.J. Maggliozzi (Stoneham, Mass.) finished at 36th and 37th overall with respective times of 39:00.24 and 39:42.00 while classmates Benjamin Lindsey (Derry, N.H.) and Chance Eason-Jones (Manchester, Conn.) checked in with times of 41:20.73 and 41:33.01 – 42nd -43rd overall, 32nd & 33rd place. Rounding out the times for the Men's team were freshman Kevin Redler (Ellington, Conn.) at 49:41.67 and fellow first-year Nesta Roberts (Manchester, Conn.) at 56:43.88.

Both teams will be back on the trails next weekend as they travel to Keene, N.H. for the Keene State College Invitation on Saturday, October 5th.