#22 Tartans Crowned Champions of Allegheny Classic

(MEADVILLE, Pa.)- The 22nd-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's cross country team repeated as champions of the Allegheny College Classic on Saturday morning. The women defeated a field of competitive teams including Case Western Reserve University, Allegheny College, and Waynesburg University.

"I was very excited about our results today. Beating teams like this is what is going to help us out in our post-season standings," said junior Abigail Levine (Bethesda, Md / Bethesda Chevy Chase) who finished first for the Tartans. Levine made her season debut today finishing fourth overall in a time of 18:39. "I'm happy to be back out competing, this race was a good one to start off the season," she added.

Sophomore Parvathi Meyyappan (Cupertino, Calif. / Monta Vista) finished second for the Tartans and sixth overall in a time of 18:47. A tight pack of Carnegie Mellon runners followed Meyyappan led by freshman Kristen Seballos (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) who finished 13th overall in a time of 19:16. Junior Kate Reilly (Scranton, Pa. / Scranton Prep) finished in a time of 19:17, placing 14th overall and fourth for the Tartans. Junior Valerie Collins finished closely behind placing 15th overall and fifth for the Cardinal and Gray in a time of 19:20.

Sophomore Isabelle Chickanosky (St. Louis, Mo. / St. Joseph's Academy) rounded out the pack, finishing 17th overall and sixth for the Tartans in a time of 19:26. "I'm really happy with our ability to show up and work together," said Chickanosky, "we showed how strong our team is when we run together."

Seniors Wade Lacey (Albany N.Y. / The Albany Academies) and Rose Ciriello (Madison N.J., Madison) finished seventh and eighth respectively for the Cardinal and Gray. Lacey placed 29th overall in a time of 19:59 and Ciriello finished 31st in a time of 20:05.

The Tartans will compete again at the Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University on September 29.