YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. – Junior Emily Izydorczak finished third in a field of 44 runners to lead the St. Bonaventure University women's cross country team to a second place finish Saturday morning at the Little Three Championship.
In the double dual scoring format Saturday, the Bonnies women defeated Niagara with 18 team points to 37 for the Purple Eagles. Canisius took the win head-to-head with the Bonnies with 18 points to St. Bonaventure's 37.
Izydorczak picked up where she left off last season before missing the final two events of 2016 due to injury by pacing the Bonnies Saturday. She completed the 5K course at Old Fort Niagara State Park with a time of 19:28, nearly a full minute better than her mark in last year's event held at Delaware Park Golf Course. Only Siobhan Quinn (17:35) and Aileen Doyle (19:10) of Canisius crossed the finish line in front of the Orchard Park native. Her third place finish is also easily her best in the Little Three Championship.
Sophomore Christine Walsh gave the Bonnies another top-10 finisher by coming home eighth at a time of 20:00. That time is easily Walsh's best 5K mark during her Bonnies career, besting her top time from a year ago by over a minute and a half.
Freshman Shayna Will made her Bonnies debut by taking 13th overall and third on the team, crossing the finish line at 20:20.
There was a ton of competition to finish in the Bonnies scoring as the team's next five runners all finished within six seconds of each other.
Sophomore Sydney Beeman came in 15th overall (20:40), finishing just ahead of freshman teammates Natalie Cummings (20:42) and Samantha Henry (20:44).
Senior captains Nicolette DiMura (20:44) and Hailey Gattuso (20:46) were also close behind.
Also notable for the Bonnies, senior Rachel Martin clocked in with a personal best time of 22:13.
Next up for the Bonnies is a trip to South Bend, Ind., where the team will take part in the National Catholic Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 15.
BONNIES FINISHERS
3. Emily Izydorczak – 19:28
8. Christine Walsh – 20:00
13. Shayna Will – 20:20
15. Sydney Beeman – 20:40
16. Natalie Cummings – 20:42
17. Samantha Henry – 20:44
18. Nicolette DiMura – 20:44
19. Hailey Gattuso – 20:46
22. Kristin Reynolds – 20:54
27. Lauryn Wortman – 21:17
35. Rachel Martin – 22:13
37. Tristen Reid – 22:19
39. Jenna Cherry – 22:49
40. Ania Rzepka – 23:10
41. Meaghan Ralph – 23:30
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