Sept. 2, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle cross country program kicked off its season on Tuesday night at the Haverford Time Trials at nearby Haverford College. Dave Laratta led the men's side with a fourth place overall finish, while Pamela Alva paced the women with a seventh place finish.

Laratta led a group of Explorer men who are in their first year of collegiate competition after the majority of Tuesday night's group are redshirt freshmen. Laratta finished the three mile course in 15:32.60 to place fourth out of 40 runners.

Andrew Mahoney followed just behind in fifth place with a time of 15:41.50. Terence McPeak, who normally runs the mid-distances during track season, stepped up in his first cross country race to place 10th with a time of 16:02.10.

Rounding out the top 20 finishers are Ray Coles (14th; 16:17.30), John LiPuma (16th; 16:17.90), Steve Grabowski (17th; 16:19.10), Mike Roethel (18th; 16:20.00) and Sean McClory (19th; 16:22.60).

Alva's time of 19:35.40 led the women in the three mile race for seventh out of 68 runners. Junior Kathleen Boland was next to cross the finish line as she placed eighth with a 19:54.20 mark.

Also in the top 20 on the women's side was Maureen Benner (17th; 20:27.90) and Sheila McFadden (20th; 20:35.60). Notable for the women as well was Kelly Baird who ran a very strong race for a personal record of 23:04.20.

The Explorers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 20, when they head to Franklin Park in Boston, MA, for the running of the Boston University Invitational.