Sophomore runner Shannon Addario finished in 25th place, a time of 24:44.80 to lead the St. Joe’s women’s cross country team at the Lafayette Leopard Invitational 6K course on Oct. 19.

“I really thought that I could take it,” Addario said. “[The race] showed where I am fitness wise and where I want to be on the team.”

Head Coach Melody O’Reilly said Addario was not afraid to step up and be the leader for the team.

“I like to see that she was gutsy,” O’Reilly said. “She went for it and decided this is my opportunity to show a big [performance] for the Hawks, so I think you know for her that’s one of the things that she’s got, big goals.”

Addario’s teammate junior Alexa Gostovich said she and Addario have the same goal of a strong work ethic and that is how they became friends. Gostovich pushes Addario to do her best all the time, according to Addario.

Gostovich said the bond improved as both runners had camp for the upcoming cross country season in August. Both are from New Jersey, and Gostovich said she and Addario worked out together and ran basically every day.

“Shannon is a really supportive person,” Gostovich said. “She is always there for all of our teammates and we push each other to be better for the team.”

Addario said she thinks having a strong mental state is important as a cross country runner.

“My favorite quote is running is 99% mental and 1% physical,” Addario said. “It’s in your head the whole time, especially during a race. It’s all about pushing yourself. To go past your comfort zone, it’s not supposed to feel good at any point.”

O’Reilly said she saw this improvement from Addario from her summer training.

“It took her a little bit of time to transition, but now she has the hang of it,” O’Reilly said. “She’s improved a lot from last year.  She came with confidence last year and just needed to transition. Now she has both going for her and she’s going up.”

Addario said she knew what she was getting into as a college student athlete.

“If I was not going to be a collegiate athlete I do not know what I would do with myself,” Addario said. “I had been an athlete for my whole life and it created more structure to have more of a set schedule rather than all this free time.”

Gostovich said she thinks the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championship’s, and some of the other bigger meets, is something Addario is looking forward to doing.

“Shannon really has adapted well and she is more determined now than ever,” Gostovich said.

O’Reilly said Addario is progressing very nicely and will make an impact on the program.

“I think she has a good head, she is a good competitor and that is what you need to be,” O’Reilly said.