Oct. 27, 2006

BOSTON - The Pitt men's and women's cross country teams traveled to Franklin Park this week for the Big East Championships. The Panther men finished in seventh in an 8K race with 203 points, and the women placed 12th in the 6K with 336 points. Providence won both competitions.

Leading the Panther men was senior Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Parry Sound/Central Connecticut State) in 28th with a time of 24:31.00. This is the second time this season in which Konoval has led his teammates in a race. Senior Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) was the next across the finish line, placing 37th with a time of 24:39.00. Fleming has scored points for the Panthers in the last three competitions.

Junior Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area/Kent State) was Pitt's third runner, finishing in 40th at 24:43.00. Next was senior Andy Tomaswick (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands) in 43rd with a time of 24:47.00. Pitt's fifth runner was senior Mike Long (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) who placed 58th at 25:07.

The Panthers had four other runners as well. Junior Curtis Larimer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer) finished in 68th at 25:25.00. Freshman Lane King (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) placed 73rd with a time of 25:30.00. Senior Steve Gonzalez (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) placed 77th at 25:52.00, and junior Eric Burnett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) finished in 106th at 26:59.00.

Leading the women's team was sophomore Monica Bhattacharjee (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) who placed 65th with a time of 23:01.00. She was Pitt's leading runner in the first two meets of the season and has been in Pitt's top two throughout. Sophomore Bailey Flask (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) finished 69th at 23:04.00. This was Flask's first race of the season as she missed the earlier races this year because of an injury.

Third for the Panthers was junior Nikki Bielick (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) who placed 74th with a time of 23:14.00. Senior Suzy Bossart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) placed 85th at 23:39.00. Just behind her were sophomores Aly Brown (Hickory, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Rachel Botham (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood). Brown placed 86th at 23:38.00, and Botham finished in 87th at 23:39.00.

Also racing for the Panthers were junior Katelyn Fleishman (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) in 107th with a time of 24:29.00 and sophomore Melissa Vignetti (Pittsburgh, Pa./McMurray) in 123rd at 26:10.00.

The Panthers will spend the next few weeks training as they prepare for the NCAA Regional Championships on Nov. 11. This year's championship meet will be held at Lock Haven University.