Franklin Pierce men claim third-straight home event; Southern New Hampshire women out-pace Raven women

RINDGE, N.H. (October 10, 2002) - The Franklin Pierce men and Southern New Hampshire University women won team titles at the Franklin Pierce Invitational in cross-country action this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce topped Southern New Hampshire in the men's event as it took three of the top four places. Junior Mike Fortier (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) earned his second medallist honor of the season as he completed the five-mile course with a time of 27:33. Southern New Hampshire freshman Eric Monty posted a second-place finish with a time of 27:37.

Fortier led the Ravens to a first-place finish at the Rivier Invitational last month with his first-ever medal.

The Ravens took the next two places as freshman John Meserve (Pembroke, Mass./Salt Lake Regional) placed third with a time of 28:15 and junior Jeff Joslyn (Plainfield, Conn./Plainfield) took fourth with a time of 28:50.

SNHU freshman Mike Infurna rounded out the top five with a time of 29:36. Kevin Backman was the top finisher for Landmark College with a time of 30:03, good for seventh place.

Southern New Hampshire junior Kristen Sidie earned medallist honors in the women's event to lead the Penwomen past Franklin Pierce. Sidie completed the 3.1-mile course with a time of 25:30.

Franklin Pierce freshman Rachel Mitchell (Shirley, Mass./Ayer) posted a time of 25:57 for second place, while junior Christine Morschauser (Utica, N.Y./Notre Dame) finished third with a time of 26:02.

SNHU freshman Karen York posted a time of 26:25 for fourth place, while Ravens junior Lindsay Ketchen (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) rounded out the top five with a time of 27:16. Megan Speedie was the top finisher for Landmark College with a time of 29:42, good for ninth.

The Franklin Pierce runners return to action on Saturday, October 19, when they compete in the Regis College Invitational at 10 a.m.