Lake Grove resident to graduate with multiple honors
KINGSTON, R.I. — April 17, 2002 — University of Rhode Island senior Erin Silvering’s cross-country goal in high school was to break 19 minutes on a 5,000 meter course. In her four years at URI, she has not only broken 18 minutes on numerous occasions but she has competed in the NCAA national championships, made Dean’s List every semester and received numerous awards for cross country.
In fact, her personal bests are 17:48 in the 5k and 21:04 in the 6k.
“I made the nationals and I am going to graduate school. I reached all my goals in college. Now it’s time to set new ones,” said Silvering of Lake Grove, NY.
Silvering will be graduating this May with a grade point average of 3.84 and a degree in exercise science. Next fall, she will begin her graduate program at Stony Brook University.
Last November, Silvering became URI’s first individual runner at the NCAA National Cross-Country Championship since 1993. She placed 15th out of 241 runners at the NCAA Northeast Regional Qualifiers.
“The Regional Qualifiers was where I had my biggest finish. When I had made nationals in my last race at regionals, everyone was excited,” said Silvering.
“Erin was the first individual in our region to qualify for nationals. Only four runners qualify and we have one of the toughest regions,” said Women’s Track and Cross Country Coach Laurie Feit-Melnick.
At the national championship, held at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., Silvering placed 91st out of 249 runners.
Along with making Dean’s List every semester at URI, Silvering has received numerous awards for her excellence in cross-country and academics including: Academic All-American, Atlantic 10 Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year, All New England, All Conference and the honor society Ti Alpha Sigma. She has also been named team MVP in three out of her four years at URI.
“Erin is by far one of the most hard working distance runners I’ve worked with. She wasn’t highly recruited out of high school but she has worked very hard to accomplish what she has,” said Feit-Melnick. “Not only does she give 100 percent in every race, but in everything she does. She always gives all of her effort.”
For Information: Dave Lavallee, 401-874-5862, Sarah Emmett, 401-874-2116