Oct. 27, 2007

RANCHO VIEJO, TX - Freshman Amanda Hefferan led NJIT, placing 12th in the Independent Division I women's cross country championship race hosted by Texas-Pan American on Monte Cristo Golf Course Saturday morning.

Hefferan covered the 6k course in 23:48.48 to lead the NJIT squad. The next three Highlanders finished 21st to 23rd. They were, respectively: Katherine Joseph (26:13.57); Cara Constantino (26:22.09) and Daisy Gallegos (27:24.77). Like Hefferan, Joseph and Gallegos are freshmen, while Constantino is a sophomore.

The other NJIT runners to finish the race were: Nicole Kerrison (25th; 27:58.67); Lesley Hendricks (27th; 28:59.73); and, Shawntel Young (31st; 30:27.01). Kerrison and Young are freshmen and Hendricks is a sophomore in her first year of college cross country competition.

The field included teams from host Texas-Pan American, Utah Valley, Chicago State and Houston Baptist along with the Highlanders.

Utah Valley had five of the top six finishers and six of the top 10, led by individual champion Ayisha Mitchell, whose winning time was 21:07.97.

NJIT will host the annual Nick Russo Halloween Classic on November 4 in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.