Women's Cross Country/Track Outlook

Head Coach Ray Treacy faces the task of coaching a young, inexperienced Providence College women's cross country team. Although there is only one senior out of the top 10 runners on the squad, a lot will still be expected of this group of harriers.

The women's cross country team has a tradition of winning numerous regional, and conference titles along with one NCAA Championship. Treacy believes this young team will be able to carry on the tradition of success. "While the team has a lot of potential, everyone will have to come together at the right time for us to be successful."

Coach Treacy also expects the indoor and outdoor track teams to be very competitive. However, Treacy believes a lot of the success of the indoor team will depend on how well the freshmen fare during the cross country season. According to Treacy, the freshmen will contribute more in the middle distance events.

The goal of this year's team is to get as many runners as possible to qualify for the NCAA Championships during the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Last year, All-American Sarah Dupre (Kingston, Ontario) and junior Rachel Hixson (Media, Pa.) competed at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships. Dupre followed up her indoor campaign by qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championship.

If the Friars are going to be successful in cross country or track, Coach Treacy is going to have to fill the void left by Dupre and Gladys Ganiel (Harrington, Maine). Dupre ended her career as a Friar after claiming All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She also was the team's top cross country runner as she won the BIG EAST title in a time of 16:51. Ganiel was one of the team's most consistent runners through her four years at the College. She ended her career as a Friar by winning the 10,000 meters at the ECAC Outdoor Championship in a time of 35:59.84. It will be extremely hard to replace these two experienced runners who helped the Friars capture the 1995 NCAA Cross Country title.

One of the team's leaders this year will be the lone senior, Dana Ostrander (Ballston Lake, N.Y.). During the last three seasons, Ostrander has been a mainstay on the cross country squad that has made three consecutive appearances at the NCAA Championship. Last year, she placed 19th (18:02) at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship and was 23rd (18:23) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship. She had a terrific outdoor track season as she made a tremendous debut in the 10,000 meters at the BIG EAST Championship, finishing third in a time of 35:30.27. Ostrander also placed fifth (9:57.94) in the 3,000 meters at the New England Outdoor Championship. Treacy is counting on Ostrander to continue her consistency in cross country and to qualify for the NCAA Track Championships.

Junior Francine Darroch (Cambridge, Ontario) registered a solid year in 1998-99 for the Friars. One of the team's major cross country contributors, Darroch placed 20th (18:04) at the BIG EAST Championship and 23rd (18:23) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship. Injuries curtailed her indoor and outdoor campaigns during her sophomore season. With her injuries behind her, Treacy will be looking for her to be a factor in all three seasons. On the track, Darroch has the potential to be a qualifier in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Hixson returns to the team after a sensational sophomore campaign. She is the top returning cross country runner from the team that competed at the NCAA Championship in 1998. Hixson earned All-America accolades when she finished in 15th-place (17:20.32) at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Much is expected of her as Treacy maintains that she is one of the top runners in the BIG EAST and in the nation. Last year, she won the 3,000 meters at the New England Indoor Championship in a time of 4:54.40. She also finished fourth (16:52.76) in the 5,000 meters at BIG EAST Indoor Championship and competed in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship. Treacy believes she can once again qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championship and score very highly.

Junior Stephanie O'Reilly (Wicklow, Ireland) should be a top five runner on the cross country squad this year. Last year, she helped the cross country team win the New England title and advance to the NCAA Championship. O'Reilly placed fourth at the New England Cross Country Championship in a time of 17:38. Treacy is hopeful that she can carry her performance at the New England Cross Country Championship forward to this season and hopefully to the NCAA Cross Country Championship. He is also optimistic that O'Reilly will be able to contribute in the distance events during the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Sophomore Heather Cappello (Lockport, N.Y.) returns after a fantastic freshman campaign where she scored in every cross country meet. She helped the team to a first-place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational where she finished 17th in a time of 17:58. Cappello also placed 20th (18:22) at the NCAA Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship and 154th (18:41.46) at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Treacy is counting on her to continue her success and be one of the team's top cross country runners.

Three newcomers who are expected to add depth to this year's squad are freshmen Roisin McGettigan (Wicklow, Ireland), Emer O'Shea (Limerick, Ireland) and Emily Tallen (Kingston, Ontario). McGettigan brings solid credentials from her high school career in Ireland. She finished second in the Irish Schools' Cross Country Championship and won the 1,500 meter outdoor track title. Treacy expects McGettigan to be a major contributor during the indoor and outdoor season as well as helping the cross country team as the season progresses. O'Shea is mostly a middle distance track runner where she specializes in the 400-800 meters. She grew up in Ireland where she also ran cross country and should be able to contribute for the Friars. Tallen is from the same hometown as Dupre and competed on the Canadian Junior Team at the 1999 World Championships in Belfast, Ireland. She possesses a solid background in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. With her international experience, Tallen should be able to help the cross country squad immediately and contribute during the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Head Coach Ray Treacy realizes that this is a young Friar team, but he still expects the squad will be able to compete at the highest level. With Ostrander leading the team and Hixson about to emerge on the national scene this should be a very exciting year for the black and white. This team will try strive to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championship and to send individual track runners to the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track Championships.

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on October 3, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at New England Championship on October 10, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at Nuttycombe Invitational on October 17, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at Rothenberg Run on October 24, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at BIG EAST Championship on October 31, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at NCAA Northeast Regional on November 14, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at NCAA Championship on November 22, 2025

Providence College Athletics

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