University of New Hampshire Athletics
Friday, November 11
Bronx, N.Y.
TBA
University of New Hampshire
vs
NCAA Regional Championships
Junior Elinor Purrier won the NCAA Northeast Regional women's cross country race Friday in New York City.
Photo by: Steve Walsh
Purrier Triumphs in NCAA Regional Championships
11/11/2016 2:03:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Junior Elinor Purrier (Montgomery, Vt.) added another high-profile gem to her rapidly growing list of running accomplishments Friday when she raced to a first-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Regional Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.
Purrier qualified for the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind., with her victory.
A two-time winner of the America East cross country title and a standout on the track as well, Purrier covered the 6K course at Van Cortlandt in a time of 20 minutes, 3.7 seconds.
She became the first runner in the program's history to win an NCAA regional cross country title and is also the first to qualify for the NCAA Championships in all three seasons – indoor track, outdoor track and cross country.
"Elle ran a fantastic race," said coach Robert Hoppler. "We're really happy with way she ran tactically and with the way the race played out. She was very composed and patient and she executed her race plan and was able to finish well and come away with a championship. Winning the regional championship is a huge achievement."
Purrier led the Wildcats to 11th place out of 37 teams.
Providence and Harvard finished as the top two teams in the regionals and advance to next week's championships.
RACE INFO
Date: Friday, Nov. 11, 2016
Location: Van Cortlandt Park, New York City
Distance: 6K
NEXT UP
WILDCAT FACTS
RACE DETAILS
Purrier won the race by five seconds over runnerup Courtney Smith of Boston College in a field of 254 finishers.
COACH'S COMMENTS
"It's a long race and you have to be patient and stick with it. I think she showed a lot of that, a lot of race savvy and composure and maturity. She ran like the upperclassman she is and waited for her time. She had to deal with a lot of pressure from other high level runners in the top pack and she handled everything they had and ran very well."
"One of the reasons that we wanted to run with a little more patience is that we've got another race at nationals a week from Saturday. With that turnaround, you don't want to empty the tank today. She waited until very late before she started to run hard and we're pretty optimistic going forward.
"For her in terms of cross country, last year she was able to win her heat in the steeple chase at the regionals and she had some experience at the regional level on the track and she was able to take her track experience to cross country and that was a big step for her. I'm very proud of her for taking that step. She's now qualified in all three sports, indoor, outdoor and cross country and she's our first to do that. That's not easy to do. I think that shows her mental toughness."
"Six kilometers of cross country is not easy. It's a long way for a miler. She had to be mentally tough."
"The team's 11th place finish is an OK day. We certainly would have wanted to equal our seeding, which was ninth. We were close. I think our young runners learned a lot and we had a really good season."
Coach Robert Hoppler
For more information on the women's cross country team, visit UNHWildcats.com.
Purrier qualified for the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind., with her victory.
A two-time winner of the America East cross country title and a standout on the track as well, Purrier covered the 6K course at Van Cortlandt in a time of 20 minutes, 3.7 seconds.
She became the first runner in the program's history to win an NCAA regional cross country title and is also the first to qualify for the NCAA Championships in all three seasons – indoor track, outdoor track and cross country.
"Elle ran a fantastic race," said coach Robert Hoppler. "We're really happy with way she ran tactically and with the way the race played out. She was very composed and patient and she executed her race plan and was able to finish well and come away with a championship. Winning the regional championship is a huge achievement."
Purrier led the Wildcats to 11th place out of 37 teams.
Providence and Harvard finished as the top two teams in the regionals and advance to next week's championships.
RACE INFO
Date: Friday, Nov. 11, 2016
Location: Van Cortlandt Park, New York City
Distance: 6K
NEXT UP
- The NCAA championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind.
- The ECAC championships are Saturday, Nov. 19 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.
WILDCAT FACTS
- Senior Hannah Kimball (Atkinson, N.H.) was second for UNH and 56th in the race.
- Senior Sarah Keiran (Rowley, Mass.) was two seconds back in 60th place.
- Purrier finished 14th the last time she ran the regionals, as a sophomore in 2014.
- She sat out the 2015 season as a redshirt.
- Purrier won the America East individual championship in record time on October 29 to lead the Wildcats to their fourth straight team title.
- Purrier finished fifth in the Pre-National Invitational Meet at Indiana State on Oct. 15.
RACE DETAILS
Purrier won the race by five seconds over runnerup Courtney Smith of Boston College in a field of 254 finishers.
- Purrier finished in 20:08.70 and Smith in 20:13.90.
- Kimball was 56th in 21:49.20.
- Keiran was 60th in 21:51.90.
- Senior Amanda Szymanski (Londonderry, N.H.) was 86th in 22:10.70.
- Sophomore Riley Gilmore (Haverhill, Mass.) was 116th in 22:29.80.
- Freshman Meg Champagne (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) was 128th in 22:39.80.
- Freshman Melissa Menghini (Fenton, Mo.) finished 142nd in 22:48.50.
COACH'S COMMENTS
"It's a long race and you have to be patient and stick with it. I think she showed a lot of that, a lot of race savvy and composure and maturity. She ran like the upperclassman she is and waited for her time. She had to deal with a lot of pressure from other high level runners in the top pack and she handled everything they had and ran very well."
"One of the reasons that we wanted to run with a little more patience is that we've got another race at nationals a week from Saturday. With that turnaround, you don't want to empty the tank today. She waited until very late before she started to run hard and we're pretty optimistic going forward.
"For her in terms of cross country, last year she was able to win her heat in the steeple chase at the regionals and she had some experience at the regional level on the track and she was able to take her track experience to cross country and that was a big step for her. I'm very proud of her for taking that step. She's now qualified in all three sports, indoor, outdoor and cross country and she's our first to do that. That's not easy to do. I think that shows her mental toughness."
"Six kilometers of cross country is not easy. It's a long way for a miler. She had to be mentally tough."
"The team's 11th place finish is an OK day. We certainly would have wanted to equal our seeding, which was ninth. We were close. I think our young runners learned a lot and we had a really good season."
Coach Robert Hoppler
For more information on the women's cross country team, visit UNHWildcats.com.
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