By PAUL ANGILLY, The Bristol Press October 16, 2001

BRISTOL -- Bristol Eastern swept the top four places in dominating the boys' race and Bristol Central's Jill Sullivan set a new course record in the girls' race during the city cross country meet at Page Park Monday afternoon.

Eastern's Jay Pipitone won the 3-mile boys' race in 17:11, ahead of teammates Kevin Rivard (17:14), Eric Garren (17:31) and Justin Garren (17:56). St. Paul transfer Jon Godbout, the city champion last season when he competed for Central, came in fifth at 18:05 in just the second race he's competed in this year due to CIAC restrictions.

Eastern beat both teams, 18-37 over Central and 16-43 over St. Paul, while the Rams edged out the Falcons, 20-37.

In the girls' race, Sullivan broke the course record by 20 second in finishing at 20:34, more than a minute and a half ahead of second-place finisher Erin Benoit of St. Paul (22:06). Eastern's Randi Ferguson was third at 22:22.

Central beat both teams, 20-41 over Eastern and 22-35 over St. Paul, with the Falcons picking up a win over the Lancers, 24-31.

The Eastern boys team now heads into Thursday's CCC South championship meet undefeated in the conference at 7-0 (14-2 overall).

"In the big meets, they've come up with some good performances," Eastern coach Bob Rottler said. "I'm just hoping we can get up one more time," for the conference meet to be held at Stanley Quarter Park.

"I think that Bristol Eastern has an outstanding (boys) team. I'm impressed with their top four or five runners," St. Paul coach Brian Mullins said. "Eastern just dominated this race, and they are an impressive team. I think they could be a force in the states. ... To get four or five runners of that caliber is very difficult these days."

Rounding out the boys' top 15 were: Central's Sam Bourret, sixth, 18:08; Central's Mike Cifone, seventh, 18:30; Central's Tom Cyr, eighth, 18:55; Eastern's Tom O'Connor, ninth, 19:12; Central's Tom Godbout, 10th, 19:16; Central's Mike Niedzwiecki, 11th, 19:22; St. Paul's Adam Motowidlo, 12th, 19:45; Eastern's John Bak, 13th, 19:53; St. Paul's Chris Baylor, 14th, 19:56; and St. Paul's R.J. Domack, 15th, 20:03. Craig Staubley finished fifth for the St. Paul team, 33rd overall, at 25:03.

Other top finishers among the girls on the 3.0-mile course were: Central's Darla Slipke, fourth, 22:36; Central's Julie Wargo, fifth, 23:17; St. Paul's Meghan Pajonas, sixth, 24:06; Central's Dyann Busse, seventh, 24:21; St. Paul's Brittany Shaw, eighth, 24:32; Eastern's Laura Bredehorst, ninth, 24:49; Central's Erin Piper, 10th, 25:48; St. Paul's Kasey Ewen, 11th, 26:08; Central's Jessica Godbout, 12th, 26:15; Central's Amanda Chromy, 13th, 27:17; Eastern's Gosha Smas, 14th, 27:34; Eastern's Viralyn Kimvoraphanah, 15th, 28:09; Eastern's Sandra Gondek, 16th, 28:14; and St. Paul's Amanda Reid, 17th, 28:21.

"This was a nice warmup for conference and the states," Central coach Tamara Stafford said.

Including Sullivan, Central placed four runners among the top seven as it successfully defended its city championship.

"They really backed (Sullivan) up well today," Stafford said. "We trained hard all season and our focus all along has been on this meet (and the conference and state meets)."

Stafford noted that not too many years ago, Central girls cross country was a struggling squad. "For us to be on top in the city, that's a big deal for us," she said.