LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Army West Point men captured their second-straight and ninth overall Patriot League Cross Country Championship, while the Bucknell women claimed their fourth-straight and twelfth overall League Championship on Saturday morning at Bucknell University’s Cross Country Course.
Navy junior Kevin Murray won the men’s title and Male Runner of the Year after earning First-Team All-Patriot League honors with a fifth-place finish at last year’s title race. Bucknell senior Colleen Buckley won the women’s title earning the Women’s Runner of the Year after earning First-Team all-League honors following a third-place finish in 2017. Army West Point Head Coach Mike Smith and Bucknell Head Coach Kevin Donner earned Coach of the Year honors following the meet, both repeat winners from last year.
Army West Point freshman Marshall Beatty was named the Patriot League Men's Rookie of the Meet, while Boston University freshman Jessica Kellar earned Patriot League Women's Rookie of the Meet honors.
Murray won the men’s 8K event with a time of 25:27.50, followed by Army West Point junior Roman Ollar in 25:36.00 to finish second. Boston University senior Alexander Seal was third in 25:38.10, followed by junior teammate and last year’s champion Paul Luevano in fourth with a time of 25:43.20. Army West Point senior Mikey Singer rounded out the individual top-five in 26:04.80.
The Black Knights claimed their ninth men’s Patriot League Cross Country Championship in program history with 32 points, breaking a tie with Navy for the most titles in League history. In addition to Ollar and Singer, they placed three more runners in the top-14 with junior Benjamin Petrella (6th, 26:07.80) earning First-Team All-Patriot League honors, while junior Robert Santoyo (8th, 26:11.20) and Beatty (11th, 26:18.10), both earned Second-Team all-League honors. Boston University was the runner-up with 51 points, led by Seal, Luevano and senior Johnny Kemps (7th, 26:09.60) all earning First-Team all-League honors along with sophomore Brett Davidson (10th, 26:12.20) earning Second-Team all-League honors. Bucknell claimed third-place with 85 points as juniors Brian Dengler (12th, 26:24.60), Jacob Stupak (13th, 26:27.30) and senior Chad Sussman (14th, 26:27.90) all earned Second-Team all-League honors.
Behind individual champion Murray, Navy finished fourth overall with 95 points, edging out Lehigh in fifth with 118 points. American, led by Second-Team All-Patriot League honoree in senior Matthew Rainey (9th, 26:11.3) finished sixth with 150 points, while Holy Cross (7th, 210), Lafayette (8th, 226), Loyola Maryland (9th, 289) and Colgate (10th, 290) rounded out the men’s championship field.
In the women’s 6K race, Buckley won the individual title with a time of 21:41.50. She led a dominating Bison squad that took the five of the top ten places in the meet. Holy Cross junior Jenna Gasparrini placed second in 21:50.90, American senior Adriana Hooks took third in 21:55.20, Navy junior Grace West placed fourth in 21:56.70 and Boston University’s Kellar rounded out the top-five in 21:59.60.
The Bison earned their fourth-straight Patriot League Women’s Championship, scoring 33 points. The championship is the twelfth in program history, as Head Coach Kevin Donner earns his eighth Coach of the Year award. In addition to Buckley, the Bison placed sophomore Ashley Blair (6th, 22:02.80) and senior Margaret Thomson (7th, 22:05.90) on the First-Team all-League squad along with sophomore Payton Capes-Davis (9th, 22:18.10), freshman Nora Bennett (10th, 22:20.00) and senior Jenna Farmer (11th, 22:20.50) all earning Second-Team all-League honors.
Lehigh finished second with 73 points, as junior Diana Hammerstone (8th, 22:14.50) along with freshmen teammates Jamie Zamrin (12th, 22:21.00) and Nicole Abbondandelo (14th, 22:23.10) all earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors. Navy finished third with 111 points as West earned First-Team Patriot League honors for the Mids. Boston University was right behind in fourth with 113 points as Kellar; the 2018 Rookie of the Meet and First-Team All-Patriot League honoree led the charge for the Terriers.
Army West Point finished fifth overall with 117 points with freshman Shelby Piccinic (13th, 22:21.90) earning Second-Team All-Patriot League honors. American finished sixth with 145 points, as Hooks led the way for the Eagles with a First-Team All-Patriot League honoree. Holy Cross finished in seventh with 209 points as Gasparrini earned First Team All-Patriot League honors for the Crusaders.
The remainder of the women’s team scoring included Lafayette (8th, 210), Loyola Maryland (9th, 251) and Colgate (10th, 282) rounding out the pack.
Men’s Team Results
1. Army West Point - 32
2. Boston University - 51
3. Bucknell - 85
4. Navy - 95
5. Lehigh - 118
6. American - 150
7. Holy Cross - 210
8. Lafayette - 226
9. Loyola Maryland - 289
10. Colgate - 290
First Team All-Patriot League: 1. Kevin Murray (Navy, Jr.); 2. Roman Ollar (Army West Point, Jr.); 3. Alexander Seal (Boston University, Sr.); 4. Paul Luevano (Boston University, Jr.); 5. Mikey Singer (Army West Point, Sr.); 6. Benjamin Petrella (Army West Point, Jr.); 7. Johnny Kemps (Boston University, Sr.)
Second Team All-Patriot League: 8. Robert Santoyo (Army West Point, Jr.); 9. Matthew Rainey (American, Sr.); 10. Brett Davidson (Boston University, So.); 11. Marshall Beatty (Army West Point, Fr.); 12. Brian Dengler (Bucknell, Jr.); 13. Jacob Stupak (Bucknell, Jr.); 14. Chad Sussman (Bucknell, Sr.)
Women’s Team Results
1. Bucknell - 33
2. Lehigh - 73
3. Navy - 111
4. Boston University - 113
5. Army West Point - 117
6. American - 145
7. Holy Cross - 209
8. Lafayette - 210
9. Loyola Maryland - 251
10. Colgate - 282
First Team All-Patriot League: 1. Colleen Buckley (Bucknell, Sr.); 2. Jenna Gasparrini (Holy Cross, Jr.); 3. Adriana Hooks (American, Sr.); 4. Grace West (Navy, Jr.); 5. Jessica Kellar (Boston University, Fr.); 6. Ashley Blair (Bucknell, So.); 7. Margaret Thomson (Bucknell, Sr.)
Second Team All-Patriot League: 8. Diana Hammerstone (Lehigh, Jr.); 9. Payton Capes-Davis (Bucknell, So.); 10. Nora Bennett (Bucknell, Fr.); 11. Jenna Farmer (Bucknell, Sr.), 12. Jamie Zamrin (Lehigh, Fr.); 13. Shelby Piccinic (Army West Point, Fr.); 14. Nicole Abbondandelo (Lehigh, Fr.)
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.