Posted: Oct 23, 2012
The Geneseo women look to repeat as SUNYAC Champions after capturing the title in 2011 for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons. They are ranked second in the Atlantic Region and 12th nationally. The Knights have three 2011 SUNAC top 15 finishers returning including Danae Polsin who was fourth, Bridgid Heenan (9th) and Alyssa Knott (14th). At their 13th straight and 17th overall appearance at the NCAA Division III meet, the 2011 women’s Geneseo team finished 12th for the second year in a row.
Currently ranked sixth regionally and 33rd nationally, Plattsburgh State women had four runners finish in the top 12 last season with Kelley Driscoll being the only one returning this year. Driscoll was named the first SUNYAC Runner of the Week this season after being the top runner at the Lake Placid Shootout and helping her team to a first place finish. The Cardinals finished last season third in the region.
Cortland’s Emily Cotey, the SUNYAC Runner of the Week September 24, is the only returning runner of the three Dragons who finished in the top 15 at the SUNYAC Championship last year. The Cortland women are ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region.
Oneonta returns fifth place finisher from last year’s SUNYAC Championship Danielle Kennedy. Her performance placed her in the SUNYAC Cross Country Hall of Fame last year.
Brockport Sophomore Rachel Malone and New Paltz’s Nichole Wischoff are also two runners to watch for. Malone was named the SUNYAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week four times this season. She was also honored as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Cross Country Female Runner of the Week twice. Malone broke the Brockport school record for a 6K run three times this season. Senior Wischoff was named the SUNYAC and ECAC Cross Country Female Runner of the Week October 8th after a first place finish in a 172-person field at the Saratoga Invitational. She clocked a time of 17:47.62 in the 3.04-mile race.
Geneseo men, ranked first in the Atlantic Region and fifth nationally, captured the SUNYAC title for the third year in a row and 12th overall last year. Three 2011 SUNYAC top 12 finishers return this year including Tom Clark who was fourth Christopher Carter (10th) and Christopher Moore (11th). Clark was named the SUNYAC and ECAC Cross Country Runner of the week October 15th after he finished fifth in a time of 24:15 to aid Geneseo to the team title at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble. Senior Alex Brimstein has been named the SUNYAC Runner of the Week two times this season. He finished second in a time of 24:40 over eight kilometers at Letchworth State. At their ninth straight appearance at the NCAA Division III championships, the Knights finished with a program-best fourth place of 32 teams last year.
Cortland men return three top 15 finishers from last year including Nick Marcantonio who finished fifth Joe Blazey (14th) and Cody Amengual (15th). Marcantonio was named the SUNYAC Runner of the Week September 10th after he finished first out of 34 runners at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational. He posted a winning time of 19:13.1 over 6,000 meters. Cortland is ranked third in the Atlantic Region and 15th in the nation. Senior Tom Hopkins is also a runner to watch as he was named the ECAC Cross Country Male Runner of the week after he finished first in a field of 112 runners at the St. Lawrence University Hoffman Invitational.
Other top runners will be Fredonia’s Peter Francia, Brockport’s Gary Messina and Oneonta’s John Longo. Senior Francia finished 12th at the SUNYAC Championship last year with a time of 26:39.79. Sophomore Messina was named the SUNYAC Runner of the Week September 24th for being a top overall finisher at the Houghton Invitational with a personal-best time of 26:13.18. Senior Longo was the SUNYAC Runner of the Week September 4th after a top overall collegiate finish at the Oneonta Early Bird Invitational with a time of 19:39. That was the third fastest time for Oneonta ever recorded at the Fortin Park 6K course.
Click here for Complete Coverage of the SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
2011 HALL OF FAME ADDITIONS
MEN:
Mark Streb, Geneseo
Tom Clark, Geneseo
Nick Marcantonio, Cortland
WOMEN:
Danae Polsin, Geneseo
Brigid Heenan, Geneseo
Danielle Kennedy, Oneonta
2011 CROSS COUNTRY RESUTLS
Women Men
SUNYAC
Geneseo Geneseo
NCAA – Regionals
Woman Men
Geneseo – 2nd Geneseo – 2nd
Plattsburgh – 3rd Cortland – 4th
Cortland – 8th Plattsburgh – 9th
Oneonta – 9th Fredonia – 10th
