Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on October 3, 2025
Women's Cross Country
at Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational
Providence College Athletics
1998-99 Cross Country/Track Preview
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
August 22, 1998
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Since 1989, the Providence College women's country squad has been one of the most dominant teams in the country. For each of the last nine years, the Friars have finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championship, including a first-place finish in 1995 and a second-place finish in 1990. The team has also fared well at the conference level where the Friars have won each of the last three BIG EAST titles. According to Head Coach Ray Treacy the 1998 women's cross country team has the ability to produce another banner season. "The goal again this year is to win the BIG EAST crown and finish in the top 10 at the NCAA Championship," Treacy said. "This team has as much potential as the PC squad which won the NCAA title in 1995." As for this year's women's indoor and outdoor track teams, Treacy believes Providence can continue to be successful at the NCAA Championship. Highlighted by two fourth-place finishes at the 1992 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, the Friars have experienced great success the last eight years on the track, regularly sending athletes to the National Championship meets.
Last year at the NCAA Indoor Championship, Marie McMahon (Ennistymon, Ireland) placed second in the 5,000 meters followed by teammate Sarah Dupre (Kingston, Ontario) to lead the Friars to a 14th-place finish. In order to be successful this season, Treacy will have to overcome the loss of Marie McMahon and Maria McCambridge (Dublin, Ireland) to graduation. The two runners combined finished their collegiate careers with 14 All-America honors. McMahon, a member of the 1996 Irish Olympic team, is one of the top runners to ever compete at PC. In addition to finishing second at the NCAA Indoor Championship last year, she also won the Indoor and Outdoor BIG EAST 3,000 and 5,000 meters titles and was twice named BIG EAST Outstanding Track Performer. With 10 All-America accolades, she is tied with former Friar Amy Rudolph for the most All-America honors ever at the College. A 1995 and 1996 Cross Country All-American, McCambridge was integral to the team's cross country success the last four years.
Senior Sarah Dupre (Kingston, Ontario) returns for her final season as one the top middle distance runners in the country. Dupre had an impressive season last year in cross country and track, earning two All-America honors. She was the Friars' top finisher in all seven cross country meets, including the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota where she captured the individual title in a time of 17:05. At the 1997 NCAA Cross Country Championship, Dupre placed 12th overall (17:00) and earned her first All-America honor. She continued her strong performance during the indoor track season by finishing second in the 5,000 at the BIG EAST Championship (16:27.59) and placing third in the 5,000 at the NCAA Indoor Championship. With her third-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championship, Dupre received her second All-America accolade of the year. She concluded her amazing junior year with a second-place finish in the 5,000 at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship (16:40.40), a first-place finish in the 5,000 at the ECAC Outdoor Championship (16:22.88) and an 11th-place finish in the 5,000 at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. In addition to her busy race schedule with the Friars last year, Dupre also represented Canada at the World Cross Country Championship in Morocco.
Also returning for her final year with the Friars is senior Gladys Ganiel (Harrington, Maine). Ganiel, a three-year member of the PC varsity cross country team, helped the Friars capture the 1995 NCAA Cross Country title. Last year, she scored in all seven cross country races she ran. However, she made her most significant improvement during the 1998 outdoor track season. In the first of her three final races of the year, she captured the 3,000 meter title at the New England Championship in a time of 9:50.98. Ganiel also looked very strong as she won the 10,000 meters at the ECAC Championship (34:57.96). She wrapped up her 1998 outdoor track season by placing 13th in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championship (35:02.31). Ganiel will be looked upon to continue her strong running into the cross country and track seasons this year. If she continues to improve, Ganiel could be an All-America candidate in cross country and track.
Junior Dana Ostrander (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) registered a solid sophomore season last year for the Friars. She will need to produce another strong effort this year for the Friars to be competitive. Ostrander was a top-five performer in cross country in 1997. She recorded one of her best races of the season when she placed 10th overall at the Roy Griak Invitational in a time of 17:40. Also, she was the Friars' fifth scorer at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. On the track, Head Coach Ray Treacy expects Ostrander to be a scorer at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championship. She has shown potential in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
Sophomores Rachel Hixson (Media, Pa.) and Stephanie O'Reilly (Wicklow, Ireland) should impact the team this season. Hixson was one of the biggest surprises in the country last season as she proved to be a force in only her first season of collegiate action. She was consistently the second finisher for the PC cross country team. Hixson placed 44th overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in a time of 17:30. She also ran for the U.S. World Junior Cross Country Team at the World Championship in Morocco last December. In track action, Hixson regularly scored in championship meets. She finished fourth in the 3,000 at the ECAC Outdoor Championship (9:32.43) and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship. At the NCAA's, Hixson finished the 3,000 in a time of 9:36.64. O'Reilly made a tremendous improvement between the indoor and outdoor track seasons last year. If she can continue to improve, O'Reilly could be one of the team's top five runners. An excellent 1,500 and 3,000 meter competitor, she ran one of her best races last year when she placed seventh in the 3,000 at the ECAC Outdoor Championship (9:38.29).
Three newcomers who could add depth to this year's team are sophomore Francine Darroch (Cambridge, Ontario) and freshmen Heather Cappello (Lockport, N.Y.) and Kathryn Casserly (Galway, Ireland). Darroch comes to Providence after spending her freshman year at West Virginia University. At WVU, she was the second scorer for the Mountaineer cross country team which competed at the NCAA Championship. Darroch also is very competitive on the track. She placed fifth in the 3,000 at the ECAC Indoor Championship. Cappello brings strong credentials to Providence. She was the New York state champion in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters as well as the runner-up in the mile at the National High School Championship. Casserly could be an immediate contributor to the cross country team. She was the Irish National Champion in cross country in all age groups from under-12 to under-18.
Once again, the Providence College women's cross country team is looking toward a season filled with success. Head Coach Ray Treacy has an excellent group of runners returning, including All-American Sarah Dupre. The Friars will strive for their fourth consecutive BIG EAST cross country title and the 1998 NCAA crown. In addition, the Friars also look strong on the track and will try to build upon their past success at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
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