The Saint Vincent Lady Bearcat cross country team has been named the 2008-09 Westmoreland County Sportswomen Team of the Year by the county's YWCA. 

Coached by Tom Harbert, this is the second time the Lady Bearcats have received the award, with the first coming in 2004.  This season's honor comes after yet another strong campaign by the squad. 

The Lady Bearcats finished in the top four as a team in six of nine meets, and finished in the top half in eight different meets.  The squad ended the season on a high note, as they took 10th out of 25 at the National Catholic Invitational (hosted by Notre Dame), second out of 10 teams at the 2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships, and 12th of 55 squads at the season-finale ECAC Championship in Rhode Island on Nov. 8th.

The success of the squad came as a bit of a surprise, as the Lady Bearcats boasted a very youthful roster, with eight freshmen and 10 sophomores compared to just four seniors.  Individually, a pair of first year runners, Katie Macioice and Ivette Meijia, led the team, as each medaled in six races and combined for five top-10 performances.  In all, the team's top seven runners throughout the course of the season were all underclassmen. 

"The youthfulness of the team is the real story," said Harbert.  "To have such a young group do so well, and show such improvement from race to race against such strong competition, is just phenomenal.

"This is just a great honor for the team," Harbert continued, "and one that is truly deserved.  We really worked hard this season, and I'm expecting even bigger things from the women next year."

Harbert is quite optimistic for the future of his program, as the SVC athletic program is slated to move from being a provisional member of NCAA Division-III to a full member in 2010.

"This strong group of young runners speaks a lot about the future of our program," he said.  "They serve as a great foundation for when we'll be able to compete for the PAC and NCAA titles."

The Lady Bearcats received the Team of the Year award at the annual YWCA Women's Sports Foundation awards banquet on March 31st at the Four Points Sheraton in Greensburg.

(Photo courtesy of Joan Davis)