August 24, 2011
Cross Country Teams Receive USTFCCCA top-10 Pre-Season Regional Rankings
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released preseason regional rankings for the NCAA Division III 2011 season on Tuesday. The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) was well-represented in the Atlantic Region with four women’s teams and three men’s teams receiving a ranking in the top 10.
A season ago the Geneseo women opened and closed the season second in the regional rankings and are looking to make a move as they rank first to start the 2011 campaign. The Knights finished second at the Atlantic Regional and the SUNYAC Championship. Marissa Liberati earned All-America recognition with a 27th place finish at the national meet, finished second at the Atlantic Regional and won the SUNYAC individual title.
The Plattsburgh women's cross country team slotted into third in the Atlantic Region to start the season. The Cardinals finished third at SUNYAC, fourth at Regionals and 30th at Nationals behind lead runner Brittany Trahan. Trahan peaked at the right point in the season to help lead her team and will be counted on to do the same in 2011.
The Cortland Red Dragons enter the poll at No. 5, right where they finished in 2010. Cortland captured the league crown in 2010, snapping Geneseo’s 10-year win streak, by two-points. Alyson Dalton returns as the top runner after a second place finish at SUNYAC’s, fourth at Regionals and 15th at Nationals.
Lauren Brunetto returns to lead No. 9 Oneonta during her senior season this fall. Brunetto was the top competitor for the Red Dragons last year finishing fifth at the conference meet and 36th at Regionals. Like the other three SUNYAC women’s teams, Oneonta is slated to return at least five of their top seven runners from the regional meet which should lend itself to be a competitive season.
On the men’s side, the Knights were regulars in the regional rankings during the 2010 season. Geneseo finished second in their eighth straight appearance at the NCAA Division III championship. On the way to the nationals, Geneseo won the NCAA Atlantic Regional and captured their second straight and eighth of the past 11 SUNYAC team titles, vaulted to that position by Lee Berube. Berube won the individual titles at the Atlantic Regional and SUNYAC Championship and finished eighth on the national stage. Geneseo will have some shoes to fill after losing four of their top seven runners but Eddie Novara and Patrick Wortner will be back with Berube to lead the squad.
On the men’s side, the Knights were regulars in the regional rankings during the 2010 season. Geneseo finished second in their eighth straight appearance at the NCAA Division III championship. On the way to the nationals, Geneseo won the NCAA Atlantic Regional and captured their second straight and eighth of the past 11 SUNYAC team titles, vaulted to that position by Lee Berube. Berube won the individual titles at the Atlantic Regional and SUNYAC Championship and finished eighth on the national stage. Geneseo will have some shoes to fill after losing four of their top seven runners but Eddie Novara and Patrick Wortner will be back with Berube to lead the squad.
Plattsburgh starts the 2011 year ranked No. 6 but it may not be easy to maintain the ranking with the loss of Mike Heymann. Heymann placed second at SUNYAC’s and Regionals and posted a fifth place finish at the NCAA’s for the best finish in Plattsburgh history. Ryan Millar and Chris Martin were regulars in the scoring five throughout the season and improved to be the No. 2 and No. 3 runner.
Fredonia is ranked No. 10 in the poll after a ninth place showing at the Regional meet and a third place finish at the conference meet a year ago. The Blue Devils will also have to replace some key runners in the graduation of the Guarino twins. Jake Krautwurst and Ryan Delaney are going to be key returners for the fall season. Krautwurst spent much of the 2010 season as the No. 4 runner and finished 13th at the SUNYAC championship meet while Delaney was a top-five finisher for the team most of the season.
The 2011 race schedule has most SUNYAC teams beginning Saturday, Sept. 3. The conference will come together for the SUNYAC Championships on Oct. 29 at Bowdoin Park hosted by New Paltz.
The 2011 race schedule has most SUNYAC teams beginning Saturday, Sept. 3. The conference will come together for the SUNYAC Championships on Oct. 29 at Bowdoin Park hosted by New Paltz.
The NCAA Atlantic Regional will be held Nov. 12 on the Hoffman Course in Canton, NY with St. Lawrence serving as the meet host to more than 40 colleges from institutions in New York and New Jersey. The NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships are set for Nov. 19 in Winneconne, Wis.
