PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 8, 201) – The Rutgers women’s cross country team placed second at the 2011 Metropolitan Championships behind a title performance from sophomore Brianna Deming (Webster, N.Y.) on Friday, Oct. 7, at Van Cortland Park in Bronx, N.Y.

The Scarlet Knights collected 52 points, finishing behind winner, Columbia with 37 points and ahead of third-place squad St. Johns’ (99). Each of Rutgers’ five scorers finished in the top-20 overall, in a field of 13 schools.

Deming paced the pack of 133 runners with a winning time of 18:05, while junior Anjelica Brinkofski (Somerset, N.J.) also earned a top-10 finish with a sixth-place showing in a time of 18:39.

Freshman Allison Payenski (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) was the third Scarlet Knight finisher, placing 12th in 18:58. Sophomore Ashley Deckert (Newfield, N.J.) took 16th in 19:01, followed by junior Victoria Pontecorvo (Staten Island, N.J.) who finished 17th with a time of 19:07. Also competing for RU was Rashmi Singh (Flemington, N.J.) and Felicia O’Donnell (Franklinville, N.J.) with each finishing 18th (19:11) and 35th (19:45), respectively.

The Scarlet Knights will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15, for the Connecticut College Invitational in Waterford, Conn.

Rutgers finishers

1. Brianna Deming                               18:05

6. Anjelica Brinkofski                          18:39

12. Allison Payenski                             18:58

16. Ashley Deckert                              19:01

17. Victoria Pontecorvo                     19:07

18. Rashmi Singh                                  19:11

31. Felicia O’Donnell                           19:45

Team Standings

1. Columbia                                    37

2. Rutgers                                        52

3. St. John’s                                    99

4. Fordham                                     107

5. NYU                                              121

6. Wagner                                       193

7. Manhattan                                 225

8. Hofstra                                        245

9. So. Conn. St.                              249

10. St. Francis (N.Y.)                    253

11. Seton Hall                                 304

12. St. Peter’s                                344

13. Fairleigh Dickinson                391