KOSGEI EARNS NE REGION ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; GAELS PRIMED FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN TERRE HAUTE
MAAC Sports
Terre Haute, IN- Iona College women's cross country senior Salome Kosgei was named 2006 Northeast Region Athlete of the Year after winning the Regional race at Van Cortlandt Park last Saturday. Kosgei's teammates Emmily Chelanga and McKayla Plank were also named All-Region for their role in the Gaels' second place finish.
Iona earned its first ever team bid to the NCAA Championship with its second place finish. The Gaels finished the 2006 season ranked No. 19 in the final USTFCCCA Division I women’s cross country poll. Chelanga and Kosgei have experience running in the big race having qualified individually the past two years. The regional finish was the highest in school history after winning the Gaels' picked up their second straight MAAC title in late October.
Iona's top three runners will be accompanied on the line in Terre Haute this afternoon by seniors Michelle Gallagher and Lauren Simeson, junior Tracey Williams and freshman Alyssa Giuliani. The Maroon & Gold enters the race optimistic about being a spoiler in their first ever appearance at the meet. Gallagher and Williams were Iona's fourth and fifth finishers at the NE Regional event. Simeson was Iona's fifth scorer in the 2006 MAAC Championship while Giuliani also performed at her best in the conference championship race.