March 10, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. - Senior Michael Ricotta (Cross River, N.Y.) has been named the GoHolyCross.com Crusader of the Week, for competition from March 3-9. Ricotta led the Holy Cross men's indoor track and field team to a 39th place finish at the IC4A Indoor Championship, held at Boston University last weekend.

At the IC4A Championship, Ricotta finished in fifth place in the 400-meter dash. In the preliminary heats, he broke a 70-year old school record in the 400 meters with a time of 47.84. Ricotta bettered the old mark of 48.00, which had been held by Tim Ring since March of 1938. He then ran a time of 47.94 in the finals to place fifth, the highest finish for a Holy Cross runner at the IC4A Championship in over 20 years.

During the indoor track season, Ricotta ran under 50 seconds in each of his last six races in the 400 meters, including his two marks under 48 seconds this past weekend.

The 2007-2008 indoor track and field season is now complete for the Crusaders. The team is set to open the outdoor season on March 22, when it takes part in the Husky Spring Invitational in Dedham, Mass.