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Women’s Cross Country to Compete at National Championship Saturday

11/7/13


West Windsor, N.J. – When the adrenaline starts pumping, runners have been known to post their best times. That's just what Head Coach Erin Cahill is expecting from members of the Mercer County Community College women's cross country team, who will represent the college at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship on Saturday, Nov. 9.  The 5k race takes place at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, IA, starting at noon, central time.  Iowa Central Community College is the meet's host. 

According to Cahill, the Vikings have been working hard and have shown signficant improvement all season. “My goal is for our runners to go out and run their best times of the year.  A championship race like this is a great opportunity to do that since there will be so many other competitors around them to help push the pace.”

Cahill also has ambitious goals for the team as a whole.  First, she is hoping for a finish in the top 25, which would be a true affirmation for a program that began just four years ago.

The Vikings finished second in the Region 19 Championship on Oct. 27, just three points behind Essex CC. Pictured back row from left, Head Coach Erin Cahill, with runners Marissa Scott, Kazima Brown, Jerlin Fernandez, Rebeckha Sanchez, Cai-Cai Hahn and Rachael Wilson; kneeling,  Lindsey Vasquez, Diana Taveras, Hixlayne Cuetia-Rodriguez and Kira Costantino.

Second, she hopes to beat Essex County College (NJ) for the first time. “Heading into this race, Essex is ranked 24th in the nation and we finished just three points behind them at the Region 19 Championship.  So, it is a realistic goal for us to beat Essex and be a top-25 finisher," Cahill says.

Sophomore Diana Taveras is expected to lead the Vikings, which, according to Cahill, she has done all season.  "Diana has had an outstanding year. This could be the race where she records her personal best 5k time.”  In addition, Cahill is looking to freshmen Cai-Cai Hahn and Rachael Wilson to post solid times, as both have run especaily well late in the season, along with freshman Marissa Scott, who finished in the Vikings’ top five at the regional championship. Freshman Hixlayne Cuetia-Rodriguez and sophomore Karizma Brown are also predicted to add to the team total. "Their hard work should pay off.  I expect them to have great races as well,” Cahill said.

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