09/08/2007

NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 09/8/07 -- The Clark University men's and women's cross country teams opened its 2007 respective seasons at the Smith College Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougar men finished sixth of 18 teams.

Caleb Evanter (Marblehead, Mass.) paced Clark in the 8k race. The junior runner finished 27th with a time of 29:34.10. Senior Thomas McCarthy (31:11:05) was the second Cougar to cross the finish line, followed by first-years Martin Leggett (77th/32:30.26), Bob Naughton (93rd/34:26.59) and Patrick O'Neil (98th/34.48.87).

MIT's Jake Ruzevick (Coronado, CA) took first in the men's 8K race in 26:58.07.

On the women's side, Emily Tremaine, back after a year hiatus, finished first for Clark. The graduate student from Spokane, Wash., placed 11th (21:04.89) in the 5k race. Newcomer Mary Martin was 41st (22:11.45), Ellen Durand took 65th (23:10.40), Kaitlyn Sephton and Jenna Glazer finished 96th (24:09.21) and 99th (24:40.42) respectively.

First year Nicole Bucala won the race in 19:46.78 for MIT. Clark placed eighth in the 12-team field.

The Cougar cross country teams will race in the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational next Saturday.