Del Fava, Buchanan Lead Great Danes At XC Invitational
Meet Results
ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany campus played host Saturday to the 48th annual UAlbany Cross Country Invitational. The race was the second on UAlbany's new home cross country course, which the program debuted last year. UAlbany seniors Silvia Del Fava and Chris Buchanan claimed individual titles in the women's and men's races respectively, leading their teammates to dual second place team finishes.
The meet officially opened with an alumni and open 5K, before giving way to the main events. The women's Bobbi Palma Championship 5K ran first. Del Fava's victory in 17:29.3 established a new course record, eclipsing the previous mark of 18:27.2 set last year at this meet by Middlebury's Sarah Guth. Del Fava's time is also the 26th fastest ever run on a UAlbany course. Today was Del Fava's final home competition, as she graduates in December.
Following Del Fava was Valentina Talevi, who placed third in 18:08.8. Molly Pezzulo followed directly behind in fourth with a time of 18:21.9. Schuyler Pruyn was 36th in 19:43.9. Colleen Maloney rounded out UAlbany's scoring runners in 38th, with a time of 19:48.1. The UAlbany tiebreakers were Chinira Lovick, who finished 43rd in 19:57.7, and Dominique Claudio, who finished 77th in 20:46.7. Also competing for UAlbany was Lexi Payne, who finished 81st in 20:56.3, Kasia Geiger, who finished 88th in 21:10.9, and Breanna Cummings, who finished 91st in 21:24.7.
The top four women's finishers were all under the old course record. The women's race featured 110 athletes from 10 schools. Middlebury took the team title for the second consecutive year, scoring 48 points. UAlbany was second with 70 points. Binghamton was third with 118 points.
The men's R.K. Munsey Championship 8K race closed out the day. Like Del Fava, Buchanan's victory in 25:18.2 established a new course record, narrowly eclipsing the previous record of 25:18.5 set last year by Adelphi's Nicholas Fillippazo.
Kyle Gronostaj was the second UAlbany runner to finish, leading a group of three UAlbany athletes, crossing the line in eighth place with a time of 25:55.3. Tyler Ranke was ninth in 25:57.5, and James Sommer was 11th in 26:01.0. UAlbany's final scoring runner was Youness Benzaid, who finished 19th in 26:18.7. The UAlbany tiebreakers were John DeLallo, who finished 20th in 26:27.3, and Jonathan Moore, who finished 26th in 26:34.3. Also competing for UAlbany was Peter Schweitzer, who finished 43rd in 27:00.8, Raymond Farinella, who finished 47th in 27:09.8, Jordan Healy, who finished 52nd in 27:15.9, Simon Nwana, who finished 82nd in 28:14.1, and Keith Machabee, who finished 98th in 29:15.2.
The men's race featured 111 athletes from nine schools. Middlebury, like the women's team, took the men's team title for the second consecutive year, earning a narrow victory over UAlbany, scoring 43 points to UAlbany's 48. RPI was third scoring 64 points.
The Great Danes now turn their focus to the America East Championship, which takes place at the University of Maine on Saturday, November 1.
