University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Cross Country Adds Six Student-Athletes in 2010
8/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Aug. 31, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's cross country team has added six student-athletes to an experienced squad from 2009. The Huskies will start the season with the Army Invitational at West Point on Friday, September 3. UConn comes into this season after a 16th place finish at the 2009 NCAA Northeast Regional.
"We have some terrific freshmen who look like they are going to have an immediate impact on the squad" said second-year coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. "Lauren Sara (Stratford, Conn.), a Footlocker National Finalist and the Gatorade High School Runner of the Year for the State of Connecticut, looks terrific coming in. I expect her to be vying for the number one spot right out of the gates. Also looking good early on are both Annabel Clarke (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) and Allison Lasnicki (Canastota, N.Y.). Clarke is a sub-seven minute steepler, ranked 13th in the country out of high school and Lasnicki is also ranked inside the Dye Stat Elite Top-50. Also looking to be in the mix is Cassandra Goutos (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) who was ranked in the Dye Stat Elite Top-30 in the 1500 meters. Stephanie Ellis (Gardner, Mass.) and Cassondra Hunter (Preston, Conn.) will round out this year's outstanding freshman class."
The Huskies lost 2009 co-captain Sara Leslie to graduation but return a group of runners poised to perform well in the BIG EAST this season.
"We are returning eight of the top-nine runners from last year. I am expecting these returners to really step it up. Our co-captain Leah Andrianos (East Syracuse, N.Y.) looks outstanding in the early going and I am really excited to see her perform in her senior season. I couldn't be more pleased with sophomore Shauna McNiff (Hingham, Mass.) and juniors Courtney Dinnan (Hamden, Conn.) and Heather Wilson (Homer, N.Y.) who clearly did the work this summer to be ready to roll this fall. I am looking for big contributions from sophomores Megan Jacoby (Endwell, N.Y.) and Kristen Malloy (Glastonbury, Conn.) among others."
The Huskies will compete for a spot at the NCAA Championships along with the rest of the powers in the BIG EAST Conference. Coach Grove-McDonough and the rest of the Huskies are excited for the challenge ahead.
 Senior Leah Andrianos was named co-captain this season.  | |
"The team is looking really fit and we are all incredibly focused on our goals this year. I really can't wait to get going this season and watch how we progress throughout the year, culminating in what I think will be our best BIG EAST finish ever" said Andrianos.
Fellow co-captain Christine Meagher (West Roxbury, Mass.) expressed similar thoughts about the 2010 UConn Huskies. "I am so proud to be a co-captain of the team this year! We have such an outstanding group of ladies and new freshmen that it's going to be a real challenge for all of us to break into the top nine this year, but we are all focused on trying to do that and contributing to the team in any way we can." Check UConnhuskies.com later this week for a preview of the upcoming schedule as the Huskies open on Friday at the Army Invitational in West Point, N.Y.
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Players Mentioned
