BOSTON – Northeastern cross country and track and field alumna Amber (Cullen) Ferreira captured the women's title in the Ironman Lake Placid race last weekend, winning by nearly seven seconds. Ferreira finished in nine hours, 31 minutes and 28 seconds to earn her first professional victory.
 
"I felt really good (on the run), but it's funny I didn't believe I would win until I crossed the finish line," Ferreira told Lake Placid News after the race. "It's so exciting."
 
Ferreira ended the 2.4-mile swim on Mirror Lake in third place after finishing in 57:13 before taking control of the race during the biking section of the competition. By the end of the 112-ride, she led the race by more than five minutes.
 
"I've never led an Ironman before so this was new territory," said Ferreira. "I knew the girls behind me (Kim Schwabenbauer and Lisa Roberts) were definitely capable of running sub three marathons so I was just running scared the whole time. But I felt amazing."
 
Ferreira was a member of the Husky cross country and track and field teams from 2001 to 2006. She still ranks in the top five all-time at Northeastern in the 10000-meter run (38:08.48), and is 12th all-time in the outdoor 5000-meter run (17:57.49). Ferreira also won the 2004 New England Outdoor Championship in the 10000-meter run (38:16.60).
 
Ferreira graduated from Northeastern in 2006 with a degree in physical therapy.