Bates cross country teams defeat Colby in modified scoring
College Cross Country

September 6, 2008

NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine -- Utilizing a unique format, the Bates College men’s and women’s cross country teams opened their season Saturday at their home course at Pineland Farms with a combined dual meet against Colby College. The meet featured head-to-head competition between classes for both schools. Strong performances from both the men and women first-year runners resulted in an overall win for Bates, with a combined score of Bates 64, Colby 50.

Bates swept the top three scoring places in both first-year races. Jenny Monsulick (Readfield, Maine) led the way in the women’s race with a time of 15:19. Nina Slote (Newton, Mass.) and Kelley Madden (Birmingham, Ala.) followed in 15:56 and 15:59, respectively, over the 2.3-mile course. In the men’s race Sean Colligan (Goffstown, N.H.) and Peter Corcoran (Stillwater, Minn.) finished tied for first with a time of 14:59 over the 2.8-mile course. They were followed quickly by Ben Chebot (Newton, Mass.) at 15:05. 

The men also added another 1-2-3 sweep in the sophomore race, led by Devin Dilts (Roscoe, Ill.), who posted the fastest men’s time of the day at 14:42. He was followed across the line by Ben Taska (Lowell, Vt.) at 15:23 and Tom Esponette (Auburn, Maine) at 15:28.

The fastest time for the women was turned in by junior Mandy Ivey of Colby, at13:53.

Bates returns to action next week when they travel to Grafton, Mass., for the Tufts Invitational. Colby will compete next on September 20th at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational.