Fitchburg State Blazes Shriners Invitational

Women collect 725 points for 28th place; Men place 19th with 465 points

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (September 15, 2012) – The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to UMass Dartmouth this afternoon, competing in the Shriners Invitational. The women placed 28th overall with 725 points, while the men placed 19th with 465 points.

On the women’s side, senior Chenice Branquinho (E. Freetown, Mass./Old Colony) led Fitchburg State, earning the top Falcon spot (113th) with a time of 20:33.11, nearly three minutes faster than last year, while freshman Erica Mallozzi (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) finished a close second with a time of 20:44.13 (130th). Capping the Falcons top five were sophomores Jenae Harrison (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington), Samantha Wilkinson (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) and Bralia Roy (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) with times of 21:11, 21:18 and 21:26 respectively. On the whole, Fitchburg State top five women group spread was at a very tight 0:53.

The Fitchburg State men also fared well at the Shriners Invitational, receiving strong performances from sophomore Eric Ouellette (Ashburnham, Mass./Oakmont) and senior Will Lary (Winchendon, Mass./Murdock). Ouellete was the Falcons top runner of the afternoon, completing an 8K layout in a time of 26:43, while Lary averaged a 5:24 pace with a total time of 26:49. Sophomore Brandon Davis (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) also ran strong with a time of 26:59, while senior Michael Grasela (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) and freshman Tim Allen (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) wrapped up the men’s top five with times of 27:27 and 27:35.

Fitchburg State will be back in action next Saturday as it competes at the Worcester City Meet at 11 a.m.