HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 14, 2011) – The Centenary Cross Country men’s and women’s teams finished their 2011 season sending four racers to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship held in Williamstown, Mass.

The ECAC Championship marked the end of eight event season in which Head Coach J.J. Cusick saw continued improvement from the Cyclones as well as a promising future for Centenary Cross Country.

The women were led by senior Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatinny) who finished 10th in the Mules-Falcon Invitational and who posted a time of 25:23.7 at the CSAC Championships en-route to the ECAC Championship. Gummerson went on to finish 155th out of 276 runners at the ECAC Championship, finishing with a time of 27:34.87 in the 6K race.

Freshman Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin), also competed in the ECAC Championship, recording a 28:55.15 time while getting some experience in a championship setting.  Earlier in the season, LaRue finished the Mule-Falcon Invitational  5K race in a time of 23:31.1.

The men’s team was represented at the ECAC Championship by a freshman and a sophomore, showing promise for 2012. Freshman Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) had his best placing at the Mule-Falcon Invitational, finishing 12th out of 44 runners. LaManna later in the season crossed the line in the 8K Desales Invitational in 30:23.07.

The Cyclones were also represented in the ECAC Championship by sophomore Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park). Ambrose improved steadily throughout the season, culminating with an 8K 31:50.6 25th place time in the CSAC Championships. Ambose would finish his season at the ECAC Championship with an 8K time of 31:06.92.

Two Centenary runners received postseason accolades in 2011. Carolyn LaRue and Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) were both named to the CSAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Centenary will miss seniors Gary Kowaleski and Erik Hoagland (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) on the men’s side and Gummerson and Liz Guella (Cedar Knolls, N.J./Whippany Park) on the women’s side, but with the underclassmen receiving valuable experience, the Cyclones forward to continued improvement.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (November 7, 2011) - Senior Chelsea Gummerson was named this week’s Cyclone of the Week for her efforts in the 2011 ECAC Championship race on Saturday. The senior placed 155th out of 276 in her final race of her collegiate career, finishing the 6K race in 27:34.87 to lead the Cyclones. Gummerson ran her season best this year at the Mules/Falcon Invitational where she placed 10th of 59 in the 5K at 22:26.02.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (November 5, 2011) – In her last ever race in a Cyclones jersey, senior Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatiny) led the Cyclones at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on Saturday, finishing 155th of 276 in the women’s cross country 6K race with a final time of 27:34.87.

This season, Gummerson has been the top finisher for the Cyclones women’s cross country team, including a 10th place finish at the Mules/Falcon Invitational in September. Finishing right behind Gummerson this weekend was freshman standout Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) who placed 203rd with a final time of 28:55.15.

The men’s team was led by the Cyclones’ other freshman standout Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) who finished the men’s 8K in 190th place of 300 with a final time of 30:39.27. Finishing up right behind LaManna was sophomore Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) who took 214th place at 31:06.92.

The Cyclones didn’t have enough racers to place as a team, but the championship race marks the end of the season for Centenary, and the end of a collegiate career for seniors Gummerson, Erik Hoagland (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), Liz Guella (Cedar Knolls, N.J./Whippany Park), and Kelly Nielsen (Somerset, N.J./Franklin).

Women's ECAC Results

Men's ECAC Results

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (October 31, 2011) – Four members of the Centenary College cross country team have been invited to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on Saturday, Nov. 5. The four runners for the Cyclones are Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatiny), Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin), Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park), and Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury).

The championship marks the last race in Gummerson’s collegiate career for the Cyclones, and a top finish hopes to be the perfect way to end the season. Gummerson finished the CSAC Tournament in 41st place of 82 with a time of 25:23.7, and recorded her season-best on the same course earlier in the season at 25:20.4 for a 19th place finish.

The championships are being held at Mt. Greylock High School in Williamstown, Mass. and will be hosted by Williams College. The women’s 6K race is set to start at 11:00am while the men’s 8K is scheduled to begin at noon.

LA PLUME, Pa. (October 29, 2011) – The Centenary College Cross Country team closed out the 2011 season with the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championships hosted by Keystone, College in La Plume, Pa.

Senior Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatinny) crossed the finish line first for the Cyclones women’s team, finishing 41st overall out of 82 racers representing all CSAC schools. Gummerson finished the 6K race in 25:23. As a team, Centenary finished seventh out of the 11 schools. Finishing just after Gummerson, was freshman teammate Carolyn LaRue (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) posting a time of 25:29. Sophomores Shawnee Smith (Phillipsburg, N.J./Belvidere) and Shawana Bryan (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) finished next for Centenary with times of 26:22 and 26:26 respectively.

Marywood University won the CSAC Championships posting a team score of 22. Gwynedd-Mercy College placed second, with Philadelphia Biblical University taking third. Centenary posted a final team score of 183.

The men’s team lined up against eight other CSAC schools in an 8K race for their final event of the year. Sophomore Rob Ambrose (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) led the Cyclones with a time of 31:50, earning him 25th place overall in the 68 participant field. Freshman Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) posted a time of 32:50, good for 35th overall. Senior Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) finished with a time of 37:53 and sophomore Justin Theriault (Succasanna, N.J./Ruxbury) recorded a 39:21 time for the Cyclones.

Centenary finished the CSAC Championships with a score of 210, while the winner, Gwynedd-Mercy College posted a 15. Marywood was a distant second place winner with a score of 51, followed by the host school, Keystone College finishing with 82.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (October 27, 2011) – The Centenary College cross country team prepares to run in the 2011 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship on Saturday on the campus of Keystone College in La Plume, Pa.

The race marks the final event for this year’s five graduating seniors as Erik Hoagland (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Gary Kowaleski (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), Liz Guella (Cedar Knolls, N.J./Whippany Park), Chelsea Gummerson (Newton, N.J./Kittatiny), and Kelly Nielsen (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) look to end their careers on a high note.

Earlier this year, the Cyclones competed on the same course they will run Saturday when they competed in the Keystone Invitational on Sept. 24. Gummerson led the Cyclones that day as she has the majority of this season, finishing the 6K in 19th of 56 with a final time of 25:20.4. On the men’s side, freshman Anthony LaManna (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) was the leader, placing 18th of 62 at 33:09.2.

The 8K championship is set to start at 11am for the men and the women look to start their 6K following an hour later at noon.