Eddie Penetar, sophomore psychology major placed second in the individual, which guided the Cabrini men’s cross country team to a ninth place finish at the Belmont Classic in Fairmont Park on a rainy and cloudy day, Sunday, Sept. 28. The women’s cross country team ranked No. 11 overall in the women’s standings.
The Belmont Classic cross country meet is usually held every year in either late September or early October.
“The thing I have noticed with longer distance races, such as the 8k, is that the key is to be stubborn and not give in when it starts to hurt,” Penetar said.
Felician College placed first in the men’s standings, while Philadelphia University and University of the Sciences finished second and third.
Penetar posted a time of 26:52.24, finishing 14 seconds behind Philadelphia University’s Shawn D’Andrea, also a sophomore. Senior Justin Walsh placed No. 42, clocking a time of 29:52.51.
Sophomore Kevin Wellman finished at No. 55 with a time of 30:34.09.
On the women’s side, Ursinus College finished first in the team standings. Philadelphia University and The Catholic University of America placed second and third.
Sophomores women’s cross country runners Diane Gapinski and Kelly McEachern did not compete for the Cavaliers in the Belmont Classic.
Senior Lauren Gambescia, with a time of 23:07.13, led the Cabrini women’s fight, finishing No. 54. Freshman Tatiana Gomez placed at No. 63, posting a time of 23:40.03.
Freshman Bridget Killen finished 86th with a time of 24:31.60.
“Every race where you compete is successful,” Jamie Tadrzynski, freshman secondary education and history major, said.
“Cabrini has had better meets in the past and we were missing some key runners for the girls, but Eddie Penetar took second place, and anytime a teammate places, it is a success because you are proud of them and how they represent the school,” Tadrzynski said.
The weather caused a factor in the Belmont Classic. It was cloudy, overcast and raining part of the day. The course was slippery and the runners had to watch their footing and where they stepped while running the course.
“Preparing for the Belmont before the race was a little different from normal since it was raining,” Tadrzynski said. “I have type one diabetes, so before a race I always make sure I have my blood sugars at a good level and make sure I have something on me in case I would go low as well as making sure that I am completely stretched out and warmed up.”
The Belmont Classic hit home as Cabrini College was the host school for the meet on their home turf at Fairmont Park.
The Cabrini men’s and women’s cross country teams return to action Friday, Oct. 3 at the Paul Short Invitational, hosted by Lehigh University.
