Cockeysville, Md. -- University at Albany's Emily Fung equaled her best finish of the season by placing fifth at the Towson Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3 at Oregon Ridge Park. The Great Danes finished second in the women's standings, while the men were third. The course will also host the America East Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1.
Fung, a freshman who helped her scholastic team win a pair of state titles, covered the 5,000-meter course in 18:52. Her teammates Ally Panos and Laine Sefick followed in sixth and seventh place, respectively. Panos, who turned in her best performance of the fall, was clocked in 19:01, while Sefick was four seconds behind. Kristin Grab took the 10th position overall in 19:14.
Towson edged the Great Danes by four points to garner first in the team competition. Lily Kasimova was among three Tigers who placed among the top-10 finishers. UMBC's Sara Parkinson was first across the line in 18:14.
UAlbany's Brian Yurkewecz registered a strong showing for the second consecutive meet. He ran the 8,000-meter course in 26:37 to take third after posting a second-place effort at Vanderbilt's Commodore Classic on Sept. 20. Freshman R.J. Sniffen (Shaker H.S.) ended up ninth among 84 competitors with a time of 27:07.
UMBC had four runners in the top five to dominate the meet. The Retrievers scored 23 points to easily defeat Mount St. Mary's (64) and UAlbany (65). Paul Zwama hit the tape first in 26:33, while teammate Anothony Kelhower was four seconds off his pace.
Towson Invitational
(Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville, Md.)
MEN ? 1. UMBC 23, 2. Mount St. Mary's 64, 3. UAlbany 65, 4. Maryland-Eastern Shore 129, 5. Delaware State 140, 6. Delaware State 140, 7. St. Peter's 170, 8. Bowie State 198.
Individual ? 1. Paul Zwama (UMBC) 26:33, 2. Anothony Kelhower (UMBC) 26:37, 3. Brian Yurkewecz (UAlbany) 26:37, 4. Andrew Madison (UMBC) 26:38, 5. Michael Christman (UMBC) 26:44.
Other UAlbany Finishers: 9. R.J. Sniffen 27:07, 17. Ian Ellis 28:02, 18. Jack Kelley 28:04, 21. David Rothman 28:34.
WOMEN ? 1. Towson 41, 2. UAlbany 45, 3. UMBC 90, 4. Maryland-Eastern Shore 91, 5. Mount St. Mary's 127, 6. St. Peter's 130, 7. Delaware State 171, Bowie State (NTS), Coppin State (NTS).
Individual ? 1. Sara Parkinson (UMBC) 18:14, 2. Liya Kasimova (Towson) 18:15, 3. Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue (Towson) 18:42, 4. Merrecia James (Maryland-Eastern Shore) 18:43, 5. Emily Fung (UAlbany) 18:52.
Other UAlbany Finishers: 6. Ally Panos 19:01, 7. Laine Sefick 19:05, 10. Kristin Grab 19:14, Roxanne Wegman 19:52.
Men's Results
Women's Results
