GNAC Recognizes 2023 Women’s Cross Country Award Winners

November 8, 2023

WINTHROP, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) formally recognized its 2023 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference teams and major award winners on Wednesday morning. The student-athlete awards were based on the results of the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Championship on Saturday (Nov. 4).

Additionally, in the days following the event, the league’s 14 women’s cross country coaches cast ballots for the Coach of the Year and Institutional Sportsmanship awards.

Taking first place in Saturday’s championship was Colby-Sawyer sophomore Adriana Nadeau, earning her 2023 GNAC Runner of the Year honors. She completed the 6K race in 25:23, more than a half minute faster than her closest competitor. Her performance helped the Charges claim the team title as well.

Earning Rookie of the Year honors was Cece Winters, representing Norwich, as the first-year competitor placed sixth overall in the race. She was the first rookie to cross the finish line, clocking in at 27:41.

Following the race, Colby-Sawyer head coach Ryan Purrington was voted Coach of the Year and Regis earned the Institutional Sportsmanship Award.

Below is the list of All-Conference and All-Sportsmanship Team honorees. The top seven finishers were named to the All-GNAC First Team, while finishers eight through 14 earned Second Team honors.

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

1. Adriana Nadeau, So., Colby-Sawyer
2. Kiara Cerruti, So., Lasell
3. Tessa Millette, Jr., Colby-Sawyer
4. Faith Shores, So., U. of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
5. Emma Krantz, Sr., Emmanuel
6. Cece Winters, Fr., Norwich
7. Libby Parker, Gr., Regis

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

8. Katherine Kohtala, Fr., Lasell
9. Heather Hanson, Jr., Colby-Sawyer
10. Keegan Finley, Sr., New England College
11. Leah O'Neill, So., Colby-Sawyer
12. Sara Hornak, Sr., Simmons
13. Jonnie Charest, So., Regis
14. Avery Goshert, So., Johnson & Wales

MAJOR AWARDS

Runner of the Year - Adriana Nadeau, Colby-Sawyer
Rookie of the Year - Cece Winters, Norwich
Coach of the Year - Ryan Purrington, Colby-Sawyer
Institutional Sportsmanship - Regis

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM

Tessa Millette, Colby-Sawyer
Emma Cotsonas, Dean
Evelyn Pohlman, Elms
Emma Krantz, Emmanuel
Lauren Jennings, Johnson & Wales
Mikayla Bokis, Lasell
Anna Kate Kochansky, Mitchell
Aleesa Jordan, New England College
Emmerson Leach, Norwich
Katie Kelley, Regis
Kelly Lavioe, Rivier
Alexia Young, Saint Joseph’s (Maine)
Sara Hornak, Simmons
Jaelynn Solorzano, U. of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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