Trinity's Bak and Williams' Cretti Named Most Outstanding Performers

HARTFORD, Conn. – All-American and two-time NESCAC Champion Ryan Bak of Trinity College earned medalist and NESCAC Men’s Most Outstanding Performer honors at the 2002 NESCAC Cross Country Championships held at Tufts University. Williams first year Caroline Cretti was the women’s medalist and earned NESCAC Women’s Most Outstanding Performer and Rookie Performer of the Year honors.

Bak, who broke the Tufts Cross Country Course record by nearly one minute in his championship performance, is joined by two seniors who are both repeat first-team selections, teammate Jim Emord and Bates’ Justin Easter. The Bowdoin men were led to their second consecutive team title by first-team honoree Patrick Vardaro. Three additional Bowdoin men were honored on the second team. Also receiving first-team accolades were Connecticut College’s Adam Fitzgerald and Williams teammates Karl Remsen and Andy Golden. Williams freshman Neal Holtshulte was the top freshman finisher at 18th and took home Rookie of the Year honors.

Williams women won the 2002 Championship finishing with three of the top four runners. Joining Cretti on the NESCAC first-team is fellow first year Michelle Rorke and three-time selection senior Julia Bensen. Middlebury also placed three on the first-team en route to a second place team finish. The Panthers were led by seniors Michela Adrian and Sarah Logan and sophomore Jessica Manzer. Both Adrian and Manzer were repeat selections. Amherst sophomore Carter Hamill, a second team selection in 2001, earned first team honors with a sixth place finish at the 2002 championship.

Williams head coach Peter Farwell was named NESCAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year after leading the Ephs to the 2002 Championship. Bowdoin head coach Peter Slovenski was named NESCAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year. Slovenski shared the honor in 2000 with Farwell who coaches both the men’s and women’s squad at Williams.