Cockeysville, Md. ? Paced by seniors Laura Cummings and Brian Yurkewecz, the University at Albany women's and men's cross country teams finished fifth and sixth, respectively, among nine schools at the America East Conference Championships hosted by UMBC at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Md. on Saturday morning. The New Hampshire men and Stony Brook women, ranked 22nd in the nation, won the team titles.
Despite fielding two of the youngest squads at the meet, both teams finished one spot higher than they did last year. In addition, the women's average time of 18:47.2 was a school record at the championship event.
Cummings finished 22nd overall for navigating the 5,000-meter course in 18:36.0 to lead the UAlbany women, which accumulated 136 points. Only 13 seconds separated the team's next four finishers who ran as a pack. Freshman Emily Fung was second on the squad and 25th overall, finishing in 18:42.7. Junior Laine Sefick was 28th overall and third on the team after clocking in at 18:48.4. Sophomore Ally Panos (29th, 18:53.3) and Tamarac's Kristin Grab (32nd, 18:55.4) rounded out the top five finishers for the Great Danes, the second-youngest squad to place in the top five of the nine-team field.
“It was a great effort by our women,” head coach Craig McVey said. “We were the second-youngest team in the top five, and we finished only five points behind Vermont which is a much older and experienced team. I was very pleased to see four of our top five runners finish within seven spots and 13 seconds of each other. That is a nice group. As they get older, they will be much tougher to compete with.”
Yurkewecz placed 11th overall in 26:05.7, which was just seven-tenths of a second behind the 10th place finisher for the final spot on the men's all-conference team. The senior was followed by four freshmen. R.J. Sniffen (Shaker) was second on the team and 30th overall in 26:53.6. Chris Manico (Shaker) placed 36th overall and third on the team, navigating the 8,000-meter course in 27:05.3. Jack Kelley (38th, 27:11.4) and Ian Ellis (45th, 27:31.6) rounded out the top five finishers for the Great Danes, the youngest squad competing at the meet. UAlbany finished with 154 points.
“Our men really improved since the beginning of the year,” McVey said. “We had some people take 30-40 seconds off their times in less than a month on the same course. I was also very pleased with our mentality. We are by far the youngest team in the conference, and I know we will have our time. I was proud of the way we competed today.”
The Great Danes return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15, to compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship at Van Cortlandt Park.
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America East Conference Championship Team Standings (Women)
1. Stony Brook, 29 points; 2. Boston U., 41 points; 3. New Hampshire, 74 points; 4. Vermont, 131 points; 5. UAlbany, 136 points; 6. Binghamton, 143 points; 7. Maine, 163 points; 8. UMBC, 192 points; 9. Hartford, 238 points.
Individual Champion: Andrea Walkonen, Boston U., 16:48.2
UAlbany Finishers: 22. Laura Cummings, 18:36.0; 25. Emily Fung, 18:42.7; 28. Laine Sefick, 18:48.4; 29. Ally Panos, 18:53.3; 32. Kristin Grab, 18:55.4; 52. Roxanne Wegman, 19:52.5; 54. Zuliana Fontanez, 19:53.9; 68. Ada Lauterbach, 20:53.4; 72. Jenn Pierson, 21:24.9.
America East Conference Championship Team Standings (Men)
1. New Hampshire, 42 points; 2. Stony Brook, 64 points; 3. Binghamton, 89 points; 4. Boston U., 120 points; 5. UMBC, 123 points; 6. UAlbany, 154 points; 7. Maine, 158 points; 8. Vermont, 170 points; 9. Hartford, 267 points.
Individual Champion: Tim Hodge, Stony Brook, 25:29.3
UAlbany Finishers: 11. Brian Yurkewecz, 26:05.7; 30. R.J. Sniffen, 26:53.6; 36. Chris Manico, 27:05.3; 38. Jack Kelley, 27:11.4; 45. Ian Ellis, 27:31.6; 46. Jon Juleus, 27:32.9; 48. David Rothman, 27:40.7; 59. Jimmy Carroll, 28:24.9; 72. Paul LaRocca, 30:22.2.
Full Results
