Cross Country Ready for USCAA Nationals
The Alfred State cross country teams will be competing in the United State Collegiate Athletic Association's National Championship race on Friday at SUNY ESF (Syracuse, NY). The women race at 11 a.m. and the men start at Noon.
On the men's side, Keith Johnson (Webster Thomas) looks to place in the 8K following his 3rd place showing at the Brockport Invitational (26:16.4) with his mile pace of 5:18.0. Jacob Hanss (East Rochester) will also look for a strong showing after finishing 13th at Brockport with a time of 27:46.8 (5:36.0 pace).
The Pioneers had 11 runners with a sub-6 minute mile pace at the Brockport Invitational. In prior meets, the men's team ran to 1st place at the Alfred Invitational and the Houghton Invitational. They also ran to two 3rd place finishes at Brockport and DeSales University. Most recently, the Alfred State men's team placed 4th overall at the New York State Collegiate Track Conference Championships.
After finishing 4th last year, the Pioneers will be vying for a national championship against defending national champ SUNY ESF, Berea College (KY), Illinois Tech and Dine College (AZ).
The Lady Pioneers are led by Lindsey Thiel (Liverpool), who ran to a eighth-place finish at the Alfred State Invite with her 6K time of 24:24.6 (6:33 pace). Kelly Healy (Maple Hill) and Cassandra Ryan (Gloversville) also ran sub-30 minute 6Ks.
The blue and gold have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 9th-place finishes at Alfred, Houghton, Brockport and DeSales University, respectively. Alfred State will look to crack the top-ten this year after finishing 13th at last year's USCAA National Championship.
The awards ceremony will be held following the men's 8K race in the Drumlins Cross Country Banquet Room at 1:15 p.m.
