Men's & Women's Cross Country
2009 Meet Results

last updated 09/23/2009

Cross-Country teams finish among the elite in New York

Bronx, New York (September 19, 2008) – The Kutztown University cross country squads traveled to New York on Saturday to competed in the Br. John “Paddy” Doyle Meet of Champions. Hosted by Iona College, the women’s team placed 14^th and the men’s team finished in 19^th place.

Competing against the most elite in the country on the 6 kilometer course that was designed to run throughout the Van Cortlandt Park, KU freshman Becca Brandt (Cleona/Cedar Crest), finished in 43^rd place, crossing the finish line at 24 minutes 21 seconds. In the middle of the pack ,that included two runners from Loyola University of Maryland, three from Malone University, and one representative from from Harvard University, Rider University and Rutgers University, junior Kristen Cupido (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan), held her spot, finishing six seconds after Brandt, for 47^th place. Teammate Christina Reimer (Chester Springs/Downingtown East), made her season debut last weekend, winning the Maroon and Gold Invitational, crossed the line at this meet in 25:17.

Freshman Lindsay Smith (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright), (26:46), and sophomore Jill Kostishion (Hiltown/Pennridge), (26:50), finished back to back. Sophomore Lindsey Ray (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) finished in 27:56. Senior Becky Webb (Lavrys Station/Parkland), and Jessica Frederick (Whitehall/Whitehall), stuck together, finishing at 28:16. Senior Lauren Ayars (Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) finished with a time of 28:34.

Although Coach Ray Hoffman said the women had a solid performance today, "if we're looking to perform bigger things at the PSAC  championships, we need to step it up.  We have yet to have our top 6-7 runners perform together. Right now,  we’re redeveloping our women’s team."

Harvard University finished first overall, with four of their seven runners finishing in the top 10. University of Pennsylvania secured second place and finishing five runners in the top 20. Edinboro University, the only other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) school to compete in today’s event, placed 12^th.

The Golden Bear men’s cross-country team placed 19^th overall for a total of 531 points on the 8 kilometer course. Kicking off their season last weekend at the Maroon and Gold Invitational by placing first overall, the Golden Bears finished two runners in the top 100 today.

Senior Ben Loht (Lewistown/Indian Valley), who finished first at last weekend’s meet, completed the New York course today in 27 minutes 22 seconds. Junior Kevin Rodgers (Clifton Heights/Upper Darby), crossed the line with a time of 27:53. Sophomore Ryan Reich (Oley/Oley Valley) finished in 28:08. Frank Nick (Kintnersvle/Palisades), crossed the line with a time of 28:12. A minute later, Eli Weeks (Pottstown/Owen J. Robers), finished the race. Harry Latchford (Enola/East Penn), and Joe Dyas (Westampton/Rancocas Valley), finished within four seconds of each other to round up the Golden Bears for the day.

"I felt we had a very solid effort today from our first four runners," Coach Hoffman said of the men's performance today, "Overall, very happy with today." Hoffman, who stated early in the season who the top four runners but was undecided who the fifth runner would be, gave a hint today that it could be Weeks. At last Saturday's meet, Weeks placed fifth.

Kent State University finished first overall for the men, followed by University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Kent State placed five of their seven runners in the top 20. PSAC rival, Edinboro University, placed eighth overall, placing three runners in the top 50.

The Golden Bears will return to action on Saturday, October 3, in the Lehigh Valley area, when they compete at the Paul Short Invitational.