Philadelphia, PA – (9/24/2011) – The Chestnut Hill College cross country team ran its first of four consecutive races at West Fairmount Park's Belmont Plateau with today participation in the Philadelphia Metro Meet. Freshman Joseph Trujillo (Derry, NH) was the Griffins top finisher in the men's eight kilometer (8K) race, pacing Chestnut Hill College to a 11^th place finish and 275 team points. Fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) member, Felician College won the event with 25 team points and a first place finish from junior Rob Albano (Pompton Plains, NJ), 26:50.42.

 

Trjuillo has led Chestnut Hill College in three straight meets to begin his collegiate cross country career. He ran the course in 29:46.35 to place 13^th, for his third top-15 finish of the season. Senior Owen Ward (Croydon, PA) was next across for the Griffins, finishing 40^th with a time of 32:18.06. Fellow seniors, Julius Twyman (Coatesville, PA) and Jeremy Goerlich finished 60^th (34:05.32) and 101^st (38:49.67), respectively, while freshman Adam Drabinski (Drexel Hill, PA) ran 115^th with a time of 42:41.30.

 

Freshman Isabella Murray (Summerfield, NC) was the Griffins lone competitor in the women's cross country race. She finished the five kilometer (5K) run in 23:36.66 to place 38^th. CACC relative Philadelphia University was the victor with 27 team points thanks to a first place finish from senior Sarah Simonetti (Perkasie, PA), 19:23.68.

 

The cross country teams return to the Belmont Plateau on next Saturday, October 1, for the Belmont Classic. The women's race is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start, with the men's to follow at 12:45 p.m.