EASTON, Pa. – The Navy men captured their fourth-consecutive Patriot League Cross Country Championship, while the Bucknell women claimed their second-straight League Championship on Saturday morning at the Metzgar Athletic Complex at Lafayette College.
Navy senior Lucas Stalnaker won his second-straight individual title, while Bucknell junior Christine Bendzinski won the women's title after a third-place finish in last season's championship meet. Navy Head Coach Al Cantello and Bucknell Head Coach Kevin Donner earned Coach of the Year honors following the meet.
Boston University freshman Paul Luevano was named the Patriot League Men's Rookie of the Meet, while Army West Point's Bethany Nunnery was the Women's Rookie of the Meet.
Stalnaker finished with a time of 24.28.8, as the Midshipmen had five of the top-9 finishers. Navy senior Ryan McCoy finished second with a time of 24:54.8, four seconds in front of Luevano, the Rookie of the Meet from Boston University, who finished in 24:58.6. Army West Point junior John Valeri finished fourth in 25:01.5, with Navy senior Ryan Speir rounding out the individual top-five in 25:01.9.
The Mids claimed their eighth Patriot League Cross Country Championship in program history in decisive fashion with 23 points, helping Cantello earn his seventh Patriot League Coach of the Year honor. Army West Point was the runner-up with 79 points, led by Valeri and senior Jacob Fong (8th place, 25:08.0), while Boston University claimed third place with 83 points. Luevano and sophomore Alexander Seal (7th, 25:06.7) both finished in the top-10. Lehigh edged out Bucknell for fourth overall with 86 points, as senior Alex Fitzgerald (12th, 25:19.6) and junior Patrick Reilly (14th, 25:21.9) both earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors. The Bison finished with 87 points, as junior William Bordash finished 10th in 25:24.8.
American finished sixth with 182 points, while Holy Cross (226), Colgate (251), Loyola Maryland (267) and host Lafayette (284) rounded out the championship field.
Bendzinski earned the women’s individual title with a time of 21:07.0. She led a Bison squad that took the top four places in the meet, with senior Catherine Scott (2nd, 21.22.9), senior Sarah Chandler (3rd, 21.25.6) and sophomore Colleen Buckley (4th, 21.36.2) finishing in order. Lehigh sophomore Maura Henderson took fifth place with a time of 21:38.6, while Army West Point’s Nunnery, the Rookie of the Meet, finished in 11th-place in 22:06.3.
The Bison earned their second-straight Patriot League Women’s Championship, scoring 23 points. The championship is the ninth in program history, as Head Coach Kevin Donner earns his ninth Coach of the Year award. Lehigh finished second with 75 points, as Henderson led the team placing fifth, followed by senior Marissa Karl (8th, 21:57.9) and senior Amanda Ruschel (10th, 22:01.9). Holy Cross was close behind with 78 points, as junior Hannah Jeter (6th, 21:41.4) and junior Anne Sullivan (7th, 21:53.6) both earned First Team All-Patriot League honors.
Navy finished fourth overall with 122 points, as sophomore Erin McDonnell led the team in 20th-place. Army West Point finished two points behind, as Nunnery led the Black Knights, followed by sophomore Abby Halbrook (14th, 22:07.8). Boston University finished sixth with 166 points, led by sophomore Courtney Breiner (12th, 22:06.4), while American finished seventh with 172 points, as sophomore Adriana Hooks (9th, 22:01.5) led the way for the Eagles.
Loyola Maryland finished eighth with 205, led by junior Cordelia McGinn in 27th-place, Lafayette followed in ninth with 260 points, led by sophomore Emily Moore (19th, 22:21.1), with Colgate rounding out the pack with 303 points and freshman Vicky Martinez leading them in 52nd-place.
Men’s Team Results
1. Navy 23
2. Army West Point 79
3. Boston University 83
4. Lehigh 86
5. Bucknell 87
6. American 182
7. Holy Cross 226
8. Colgate 251
9. Loyola Maryland 267
10. Lafayette 284
First Team All-Patriot League: 1. Lucas Stalnaker (Navy), 2. Ryan McCoy (Navy), 3. Paul Luevano (Boston U.), 4. John Valeri (Army West Point), 5. Ryan Speir (Navy), 6. Samuel Williams (Navy), 7. Alexander Seal (Boston U.).
Second Team All-Patriot League: 8. Jacob Fong (Army West Point), 9. Jake Brophy (Navy), 10. William Bordash (Bucknell), 11. Kevin Murray (Navy), 12. Alex Fitzgerald (Lehigh), 13. Cory Donley (Navy), 14. Patriot Reilly (Lehigh).
Women’s Team Results
1. Bucknell 23
2. Lehigh 75
3. Holy Cross 78
4. Navy 122
5. Army West Point 124
6. Boston University 166
7. American 172
8. Loyola Maryland 205
9. Lafayette 260
10. Colgate 303
First Team All-Patriot League: 1. Christine Bendzinski (Bucknell), 2. Catherine Scott (Bucknell), 3. Sarah Chandler (Bucknell), 4. Colleen Buckley (Bucknell), 5. Maura Henderson (Lehigh), 6. Hannah Jeter (Holy Cross), 7. Anne Sullivan (Holy Cross).
Second Team All-Patriot League: 8. Marissa Karl (Lehigh), 9. Adriana Hooks (American), 10. Amanda Ruschel (Lehigh), 11. Bethany Nunnery (Army West Point), 12. Courtney Breiner (Boston University), 13. Elizabeth Sheprow (Bucknell), 14. Abby Halbrook (Army West Point).