September 29, 2009

DOYLE NAMED NORTHEAST CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK, EARNS FIRST-EVER NEC CROSS COUNTRY ACCOLADE FOR BRYANT UNIVERSITY

Ted Owen Invitational Women's Results

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After taking first place at the Central Connecticut Ted Owen Invitational on Saturday, Bryant University freshman Deirdre Doyle (Carlow, Ireland) has been named the Northeast Conference women's cross country rookie of the week.

In only the second race of her collegiate career, Doyle bested the field with a time of 18:11 on the Stanley Quarter Park course in New Britain, Conn., slicing 48 seconds off of her previous 5K time. She finished 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Niamh Ryan of Rhode Island who crossed the line in 18:25. 

The Carlow, Ireland product has paced the Bulldogs in each of their last two events, including leading the team to a third-place finish on Saturday. In her first meet of the season, Doyle garnered an 11th place finish and registered a time of 18:59 at the Quinnipiac Invitational.

The award is the first-ever Northeast Conference cross country accolade presented to Bryant University.

Doyle and her teammates return to action on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the New England Championships hosted at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.