WM's Regan Rome Tops WXC Postseason Honors
Kelly McCarthy
RICHMOND, Va. (December 2, 2016) – For the second straight season, William & Mary junior
Regan Rome was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Elon University's
Melissa Anastasakis picked up CAA Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year honors.
William & Mary’s
Natalie Hall was named CAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the third straight season. Hall led the Tribe women’s team to their fifth-consecutive CAA Championship and spots in the national rankings all season long.
Rome won the CAA individual title for the first time in a time of 21:12.64 more than 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up en route to Most Outstanding Performer and All-CAA honors. During the regular season, Rome was the champion at both the W&M Invitational and the Panorama Farms Invitational, in addition to a fourth-place showing at Penn State and second at the season-opening Richmond Two-Mile. She was named CAA Runner of the Week three times. At the NCAA Southeaster Regionals, she finished sixth overall (20:35.7) and secured her third appearance at the NCAA Championship via an individual at-large bid for the second straight year. Rome finished in the top-70 at the national meet. This is the third major award for Rome, who was named the 2014 CAA Rookie of the Year.
Anastasakis was the top freshman finisher at the CAA Championship, finishing in 12th place with a time of 22:18.35 to earn All-CAA honors. She was also the top CAA freshman finisher at NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, placing 57th overall with a personal best of 21:54. It is the second straight year in which an Elon runner has earned the CAA Rookie of the Year.
The top-12 finishers at the CAA Championships earned All-CAA honors.
| 2016 All-CAA Women’s Cross Country Team |
| Melissa Anastasakis |
Elon |
Fr. |
Hillsdale, Ontario |
| Molly Applegate |
William & Mary |
R-Jr. |
Toms River, N.J. |
| Molly Breidenbaugh |
William & Mary |
Jr. |
Mechanicsville, Va. |
| Coralea Geraniotis |
Elon |
So. |
Orleans, Mass. |
| Kimberly Johansen |
Elon |
Sr. |
Chelmsford, England |
| Molly McKenna |
William & Mary |
Jr. |
Newport News, Va. |
| Tessa Mundell |
James Madison |
Sr. |
Mohnton, Pa. |
| Nora Raher |
James Madison |
Jr. |
Centreville, Va. |
| Regan Rome |
William & Mary |
Jr. |
Dallas, Pa. |
| Carol Strock |
James Madison |
Sr. |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. |
| Olivia Viparina |
James Madison |
So. |
Ledgewood, Va. |
| Lucy Young |
Northeastern |
Sr. |
Brisbane, Australia |
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| CAA Women’s XC Athlete of the Year: Regan Rome, William & Mary |
| CAA Women’s XC Rookie of the Year: Melissa Anastasakis, Elon |
| CAA Women’s XC Coach of the Year: Natalie Hall, William & Mary |
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| 2016 CAA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team |
| Molly Applegate |
William & Mary |
Jr. |
Toms River, N.J. |
| Cara Butcher |
College of Charleston |
Sr. |
North Massapequa, N.Y. |
| Shelby Cuddeback |
Elon |
Sr. |
Attleboro, Mass. |
| Molly Doyle |
Delaware |
So. |
Hillsborough, N.J. |
| Abby Gauthier |
Towson |
So. |
Forked River, N.J. |
| Sarah Goodnight |
UNCW |
Sr. |
Salisbury, N.C. |
| Emily McLean-Loughlin |
Hofstra |
Jr. |
Jaffrey, N.H. |
| Nora Raher |
James Madison |
Jr. |
Centreville, Va. |
| Brooke Wojeski |
Northeastern |
Jr. |
East Greenbush, N.Y. |