Fall 2008 Highlights

The 2008 season was a banner year for the PhilaU cross country squads as the women took the CACC championship and the men finished third overall at the conference meet. The following are highlights from the year:

The men's cross country team finished as the Wilmington Invitational Team Champions, Philly Metro Championship Team Champions, Goldey-Beacom College Classic Team Champions, and took third at the CACC Championships.  Junior Shawn D'Andrea and sophomore Dave Snyder earned CACC All-Conference honors. 

D'Andrea was the uncontested leader to this Ram squad as his season accolades included a CACC Championship third-place finish.  He set school records in both the 8K (26:21) and 10K (32:25) this season.  He won the Wilmington Invitational, Belmont Classic, Goldey-Beacom Invitational and finished as runner-up at the Cabrini College Invitational.  He also took third at the Philly Metro Championship. 

The women's cross country team finished as CACC Team Champions in 2008 for the first-time in school history, capping a successful Lady Ram season.  The team also captured both the Philadelphia Metro Championship and the Goldey-Beacom Invitational Championship.  CACC All-Conference honors went to freshman Sarah Simonetti, junior Faith Anderson, sophomore Kaitlin O'Leary and freshmen Gabrielle Dei Tos and Madelyn Trout. 

Simonetti burst onto the collegiate running scene wining the CACC Rookie of the Year award while placing fifth overall at the CACC Championship.  She was the first CACC runner ever to named NCAA All-Region placing 13th at the NCAA Regional Championships.  Simonetti ran the fastest time ever a PhilaU runner in the 5K (19:42) and 6K (23:43) this season.  She also won the Philadelphia Metro Invitational and was runner-up at the Wilmington Invitational.  The rookie took third at the Belmont Classic.