By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - The USF women's cross country team's No. 1 continued to lead the way at Friday's Big East Championships.
Senior Nicole Rozario became the Bulls' top finisher when she placed 38th with a time of 22:18.48 on the 6K course at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y. Rozario has led USF in each of the six meets she's competed in after missing last season with an injury.
"Throughout the season she's done of getting to where she needed to be and getting us out front. She went out there and did her best, and I'm happy with the way she performed," head coach Dena Reif said.
Six of the nine competitors from the USF women's team set to personal marks on the way to the Bulls finishing in 11th place. Kelli Williams continued her run as USF's No. 2 by posting a time of 22:52.48 that got her into 50th place. Jessie Prendergast stayed strong in the Bulls' third spot with a time of 24:20.06 on the course the team first tried out Sept. 15.
"Some of them improved by almost a minute, so I was definitely happy with the way they went out and performed today," Reif said. "With all that way lost from last year, I thought it was a great performance."
The USF men's team placed 14th and was led by Michael Babinec, who finished in 76th individually with a time of 27:24.58 on the 8K course. The finish marked the third straight time the freshman has led the Bulls.
"He went out and ran smart through the first mile," said Reif, who noted Babinec was ahead of the pack early on.
Freshman Argishti Gazari, usually USF's No. 1, was the second Bull to cross the finish line with a time of 28:08.76.
The top seven runners from each USF team will compete at the NCAA South Regional Nov. 9 in Tallahassee. The rest of the team will participate in Richard's Run next Friday in Ybor City.
Women's 6K Team Finishes
1. Georgetown
2. Connecticut
3. Providence
4. Villanova
5. Notre Dame
6. Syracuse
7. Marquette
8. Cincinnati
9. Pittsburgh
10. Rutgers
11. USF
12. St. John's
13. Louisville
14. Seton Hall
15. DePaul
USF Women's Finishers
38. Nicole Rozario, 22:18.48
50. Kelli Williams, 22:52.48
91. Jessie Prendergast, 24:20.06
99. Bethany Evans, 24:44.57
102. Rachael James, 24:53.00
104. Leandra Munson, 24:56.61
109. Abby Ritter, 25:10.75
112. Robyn Oakley, 25:31.28
116. Kayla Bratcher, 25:51.06
Men's 8K Team Finishes
1. Syracuse
2. Georgetown
3. Notre Dame
4. Providence
5. Villanova
6. Louisville
7. Cincinnati
8. Marquette
9. Connecticut
10. DePaul
11. Rutgers
12. Pittsburgh
13. USF
14. Seton Hall
USF Men's Finishers
76. Michael Babinec, 27:24.58
82. Agishti Gazari, 28:08.76
85. Julian Gines, 28:15.56
87. Steven Fernandez, 28:21.00
88. Felix Soto, 28:32.37
90. Josh Pelletier, 28:47.76
93. Alex Hoffman, 29:29.02
111. Mario Ojeda, 29:55.11
