CAMBRIDGE, Mass – University at Albany junior Paul Lagno (Salt Point, N.Y./Millbrook) and University of New Hampshire sophomore Elise Beattie (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) raced their way to America East Performer of the Week honors for the first week of the 2011 season. Both harriers paved the way for their respective teams’ places in the Northeast regional rankings. Albany stood pat at No. 10 while UNH enters the rankings at No. 10.
Lagno finished first at the Monmouth Kick-Off Classic on Sept. 3, cruising through the 6,000-meter course in a record-breaking time of 18:11.7. The previous course record belonged to Lagno’s current teammate, Alex Leuchanka (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa). Lagno, who finished fourth at last year’s America East Championship meet, propelled the Danes to a team win in the nine-team field.
Beattie turned in a fifth-place finish in the 72-runner field at the five-team Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 10. She raced through the 5K course in 17:27 leading her Wildcats to a third-place team finish. Her efforts catapulted UNH from the depths of the unranked to No. 10 in the latest Northeast regional rankings.
The University at Albany competed at the Monmouth Kick-Off classic on Sept. 3 for the fourth consecutive year and swept both the men’s and women’s races for the fourth straight year. The Great Dane men placed six runners in the top nine including the top four finishers. Paul Lagno led the way with a course-record time of 18:11.7. Junior Ethan Clary (Schuylerville, N.Y./Schuylerville Central) was second with a time of 18:19.4 followed by Chris Burke (Tully, N.Y./Tully/SUNYDelhi) in 18:40.7 and Alex Leuchanka (18:43.2). Kathryn Fanning (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) was first across the finish line in the women’s race with a time of 14:21.8, while four other Great Dane women placed in the top six. Albany will next run at Iona’s Meet of Champions on Saturday, Sept. 17.
Binghamton freshman Colin Frost (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) placed ninth at the Cornell Tri-Meet with a time of 27:01 on the 8K course while sophomore harrier Caitlin Jelinek (Holmes, N.Y./Pawling) completed the women’s 5K race in 19:16, good for 11th place overall. Both Bearcat squads finished third. Next up will be the Lehigh Paul Short Run on Sept. 30.
Boston University ran in the Bryant Invitational over the weekend, turning in a number of solid performances. Sophomore Rich Peters (Bristol, England/Brimsham Green School) finished first among 97 runners in the 5K course with a time of 15:00.4 leading the way. The Terriers placed four runners in the top 20. The women were led by a fourth-place finish for sophomore Rosa Moriello (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck). The Terriers will next compete at the Codfish Bowl at Franklin Park on Sept. 24.
Hartford’s cross country squads opened the 2011 campaigns torching the competition at the Trinity Bantam Invitational on Sept. 10. Sophomore Megan Barry (South Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis Yarmouth Regional) paced the women as she recorded a new personal record in the 4,000-meter race clocking in at 16:57 to claim the top-spot. Rookie Samantha Crisafulli placed fourth overall in her first collegiate race. Andrew Chalmers took home fourth place for the Hawks in the 5,000-meter race with a time of 16:44. He led a pack that placed six runners in the top 15. Hartford will have two weeks off before running on Sept. 24 at the Ted Owen Invitational hosted by Central Connecticut State.
Maine opened its season on Sept. 3 in a tri-meet with Providence and New Hampshire. Last year’s America East champion Riley Masters (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) took runner-up honors in the men’s race with a time of 19:01. For the women, Jennifer Lucy (Bangor, Maine/Bangor) finished 11th to pace the Black Bears. Both men’s and women’s teams finished third. Maine is next in action on Sept. 17 at UMass’ Minuteman Invitational.
UMBC cross country ran in the Mount St. Mary’s Dual 5K’s on Sept. 2 to begin 2011. Sophomore Brandon McGee (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) led the Retriever men across the line in fourth place overall in 15:33.07. Senior Keri Wilson (Columbia, Md./Long Reach) finished seventh in 18:55.55 to lead the women. The Retrievers return to the courses on Sept. 17 for the Navy Invitational.
New Hampshire’s Elise Beattie placed fifth overall in the 72-runner field at the Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 10. She finished the 5K course in 17:27 to lead the Wildcats to a third-place team finish, which propelled the women from unranked to No. 10 in the Northeast region. The men did not race this week, but both teams are back in action on Sept. 24 when they visit Maine.
Stony Brook opened its season on Sept. 3 with wins over Quinnipiac and C.W. Post. Hayley Green (Wellington, New Zealand/Samuel Marsden Collegiate) won the race in a blistering 13:53. Three Stony Brook men tied for first place in 19:19. Sophomores Daniel Denis (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) and Carlos Roa (Jamiaca, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), and senior Gerard Harley (Seatauket, N.Y/Ward Melville H.S.) crossed the finish line together for the Seawolves. Stony Brook will join Hartford at the Ted Owen Invitational on Sept. 24.
Vermont took home second-place finishes in both men’s and women’s races at its season opening meet on Sunday at the Catamount Family Center in Williston, Vt. Senior Morgan Powers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) won the women’s meet with a time of 18:04.4 on the 5K course. The men’s team was led by sophomore Aaron Szota (Windsor, Conn./Windsor), who finished 14th overall in the men’s 8K with a time of 26:05.6. The Catamounts next compete at the Minuteman Invitational at UMass on Sept. 17.