Have to give a shout out to the Women’s Cross-Country team, who won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP yesterday in great fashion, easily beating out runners-up Florida State and previously #1 ranked Washington.

This was the 8th national title for the team, but the first for Coach Gina Procaccio.

“The girls ran phenomenal,” Procaccio said. “It has been an amazing season and all seven ran so well today. We continued to execute every race and stayed in the front pack the whole time.”

5 Villanova runners scored for the team en route to the title. Runners and times are as follows:

• Junior Amanda Marino – 20:02.4
• Junior Sheila Reid – 20:16.3
• Sophomore Bogdana Mimic – 20:26.6
• Junior Ali Smith – 20:33.1
• Senior Nicole Schappert – 20:38.1

Congrats to the entire team on a great season and for bringing Villanova it’s 17th Athletic National Championship!

It occurred to me today that I’m quickly tiring of waiting for Villanova hoops. I’ve already bought my tickets, and I’d pay good money to be able to see a game this weekend. Seriously. No disrespect to the football team — you’re having a great year, and I’ve actually become a huge fan the past 2 years, but I need me some basketball.

Luckily, the Villanova chapter of the NBA got things underway this week with their preseason starting up. That, and more Villanova athletes continue to bring home the hardware during the fall season. I guess times aren’t so rough.

• Kyle Lowry didn’t start for Houston, but he ended up playing more minutes than Aaron Brooks and filled the stat sheet. Keep it up Kyle.
• Dante Cunningham was a DNP (Coaches’ Decision) in the Blazers opening game. But he did having a little dunk contest at their Fan Fest. In the words of the Blazers’ columnist “he can fly.”
• Randy Foye came off the bench to score 14 points in his Wizards debut. He, like Lowry, is a stat-sheet filler.
• Gary Parrish of CBSSports ranks ‘Nova 6th in his final pre-season poll. Fair.
• Get ready for “Hoops Mania presented by Advance Staging Productions.” Wow, I think I just threw up a little.
• The Women’s Cross Country won the Bill Dellinger Invitational to start their season. And afterward, they moved up to #2 in the country. Way to go girls!
• Megan Goelz was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for the third consecutive week. Kudos.
• Elysse Studzinski was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll in volleyball.