ORONO, Maine – The conclusion of the America East cross country season takes place this Saturday in Orono, Maine with the conference championship meet. UMBC will be looking to defend its title on the men’s side, while New Hampshire will look to capture its second-straight conference crown in the women’s race. The championship meet it set to begin at 10 a.m. with the men running an 8K, then the women will run their 5K event at 11:00 a.m.
The men’s race will feature two teams that a currently in the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings in UMBC and New Hampshire. The Retrievers land themselves at number nine in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and the Wildcats stand in 12th in the Northeast Region. Other America East teams found themselves in the regional rankings at various points this season; Stony Brook ranked as high as #11, the Catamounts reached a peak at #15.
On the women’s side, many America East squads find themselves within the rankings of the USTFCCCA. Currently, New Hampshire sits sixth in the Northeast Region, and Stony Brook stands at #13. UMBC holds the fort for the America East in the Mid-Atlantic region ranking 13th. Albany also found themselves in the regional rankings at points this year, reaching a high point at #12.
New Hampshire may bring the most firepower to the Cross Country Championship. On the men’s side, John Prizzi will look to repeat as the first-place finisher. The senior took the title last year in Vestal, N.Y., running the 8K course with a time of 24:55.22. Prizzi was also named an America East Performer of the Week earlier this season.
Elinor Purrier propels the Wildcats on the women’s side having won the America East Performer of the Week twice this season. As a freshman last year Purrier finished sixth at the America East Championship. Laura Rose Donegan is an additional female Wildcat who took home POTW honors this year.http://www.americaeast.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=14000&ATCLID=209694720
Other Performers of the Week to take notice of this upcoming weekend on the men’s side include Stony Brook’s Eric Speakman, and UMBC’s Hassan Omar. Both runners took home the weekly honor twice this season, and each will look to build upon last year’s strong championship performance. Omar finished third in last year’s event, and Speakman took home sixth.
Albany’s Silvia Del Fava took home the female Performer of the Week honor twice this season. The Italian senior had success at last year’s championship finishing third overall with a time of 17:49.96.
Earlier this year, Maine hosted the Pre-America East Conference Meet with four school’s taking part. Vermont took home first place on the women’s side; Alicia Clark led the Catamounts running the 5K course in 18:58.00. New Hampshire took the men’s crown, eking out the Catamounts by just five points. Vermont’s Dan Moroney won the event, pacing the pack with a 25:59.2 time.
Visit Championship Central on AmericaEast.com for course maps, meet history and more. You can also follow the action on Twitter @AmericaEast, #AEChamps or #AEXC as the first champions of 2013-14 are crowned.