September 9, 2006

NEWARK, NJ - The 2006 women's cross country season figures to be one of transition, as New Jersey Institute of Technology embarks in a new level of competition with a squad that lost three of its top five runners from 2005 to graduation.

NJIT is competing at the NCAA Division I level this fall after having been in Division II in previous seasons.

Liz Mayo, the program's top runner completed her NJIT career last November in the ECAC championship race held at Van Cortlandt Park. Graduated, too, are Jady Alvarez and Viviana Florea, who were both in the team's top five. Mayo graduated with school records on eight of the 11 courses the team has run, including Van Cortland Park in New York and Branch Brook Park in Newark.

Expected to lead the returnees are sophomores Katie Carroll, who will be a team captain, Aileen Davila and Becky Lindsey. Carroll set the NJIT freshman records for Van Cortlandt Park and Branch Brook Park, as well as two other courses.

NJIT junior Jackie McCaffrey, who has two years of intercollegiate basketball under her belt, ran track in the spring and is with the cross country team for the first time. "Jackie is transitioning from basketball, but she had a very good spring in track and field and is doing well in cross country," said veteran coach Al Alonso, who is in his fourth year at the NJIT helm after coaching 19 seasons at his alma mater, Stevens Institute of Technology.

One of the team leaders from the start of her career will be freshman Cara Constantino, who was a standout at nearby Bloomfield High School. "We expect her to make an immediate impact," said Alonso. "She could be our number one or number two runner as a freshman."

Jessica Ware is another freshman of note. A jumper and hurdler in track and field, she will also help cross country. "She's transitioning to cross country and she's been very impressive," said Alonso.