Jan. 2, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - For Massachusetts standout and two-time Atlantic 10 cross country champion Rebecca Donaghue recently captured the individual title at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Plantes Ferry Recreation Park in Spokane, Wash.

The races were held under windy and blustery conditions, with a light dusting of snow that accumulated the night before. Temperatures were in the high 20s with the wind chill making it feel at least 10 degrees colder for the 900+ participants representing America's top post-collegiate club teams

Donaghue, who was the A-10 Cross Country individual champion in 1996 and 1997, posted a winning time of 21:38 and was one of just five women to break 22 minutes on the 6-kilometer course.

"Truthfully, these were the worst conditions I've ever run in. I can't feel my face; I can't feel my fingers. The wind blew me over at about a mile and a half. I drafted off of other people, as the wind was absolutely brutal," said Donaghue, who led a field of 185 runners while competing for New Balance Boston.

"I ran in the NCAA cross country championships a few years ago where it was this cold, but never that windy. This is real cross country weather."

QUIGLEY WINS CENTRAL PARK RACE
On New Year's Day, former La Salle All-American Sean Quigley won the men's title and Aziza Aliyu of Ethiopia took the women's in the Midnight Run through a frigid Central Park in New York.

Quigley, 23, covered the four miles in 18 minutes, 45 seconds. Brian Olinger of Columbus, Ohio, was second in 18:53, followed by Abiyot Endale of Ethiopia in 18:59.

About 4,000 competed in the event, sponsored by the New York Road Runners. The temperature was 18 degrees when the race started at midnight, but a 16-m.p.h. wind dropped it to just 3 degrees.

"I never ran in weather as cold as this," Quigley said.