HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Army West Point women’s team and the Navy men’s team earned the team titles at the 2023 Patriot League Cross Country Championships at Colgate University. It was the first women’s championship for the Black Knights since 2004, while the Navy men earned their third consecutive Patriot League title.
Boston University’s Hannah Prosser earned the individual crown, with a 6K time of 20:37.5. She was named the Patriot League Women’s Outstanding Performer of the Meet and Rookie of the Meet following the championship. She is the first individual champion for the Terriers since 2019.
Murphy Smith of Navy won the men’s race to collect Patriot League Men’s Outstanding Performer of the Meet honors by finishing the 8K course in 24.27.4. Smith became the first Navy individual champion since 2019.
Thomas Smigo finished sixth overall with a time of 25:04.2 en route to the Men’s Rookie of the Meet award. He paced the attack for a Lehigh Mountain Hawk group that finished fifth as a team.
Army West Point’s coach Mike Smith was voted Patriot League Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the program to its sixth title. Midshipmen men’s coach Aaron Lanzel collected his third-consecutive Patriot League Men’s Coach of the Year award. He guided the Mids to their 11th Patriot League cross country title, which ties them for first in League history with Army West Point.
2023 Patriot League Cross Country Women's Major Awards
Women’s Outstanding Performer of the Meet: Hannah Prosser, Boston University, Fr.
Women’s Rookie of the Meet: Hannah Prosser, Boston University, Fr.
Women’s Coach of the Meet: Mike Smith, Army West Point
2023 Patriot League Cross Country Women’s Championship Team Results
1. Army West Point, 29
2. Boston University, 40
3. Navy, 74
4. Bucknell, 91
5. Lehigh, 127
6. Lafayette, 203
7. American, 229
8. Colgate, 234
9. Loyola, 235
10. Holy Cross, 258
First-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 1. Hannah Prosser, Boston University, Fr.; 2. Vera Sjoberg, Boston University, So.; 3. Charlotte Richman, Army West Point, So.; 4. Claire Lewis, Army West Point, So.; 5. Eleanor Abraham, Navy, Sr.; 6. Joanna Halfhill, Army West Point, Jr.; 7. Louisa Diamond, Army West Point, Fr.
Second-Team All-Patriot League (Women): 8. Abigail Paczewski, Bucknell, Sr.; 9. Mikayla Cheney, Army West Point, Fr.; 10. Kelly Jones, Boston University, Fr.; 11. Caroline Harding, Navy, Sr.; 12. Laurynn Sisneros, Army West Point, Jr.; 13. Adrienne Buettner-Cable, Boston University, Fr.; 14. Abby Waddington, Boston University, Fr.
WOMEN’S 6K Championship Recap
The Army West Point women’s cross country team won its sixth Patriot League title and first since 2004 with 29 points. The Black Knights placed five runners in the top 10 led by sophomores Charlotte Richman (22:12.4) and Claire Lewis (22:20.0), who finished third and fourth, respectively.
Boston University (40) and Navy (74) placed second and third in the final team standings. The Terriers’ Hannah Prosser (20:37.5) and Vera Sjoberg (21:45.1) finished first and second, while Navy’s top finisher, Eleanor Abraham, finished fifth with a time of 22:20.3.
Bucknell (91) posted a fourth-place team finish, while host Lehigh (127) placed fifth. Bucknell’s Abigail Paczewski was a second-team All-League selection with her eighth-place finish. Lafayette (203), American (229), Colgate (234), Loyola (235), and Holy Cross (258) rounded out the field in the women’s race.
2023 Patriot League Cross Country Men's Major Awards
Men’s Outstanding Performer of the Meet: Murphy Smith, Navy, Jr.
Men’s Rookie of the Meet: Thomas Smigo, Lehigh, Fr.
Men’s Coach of the Meet: Aaron Lanzel, Navy
2023 Patriot League Cross Country Men’s Championship Team Results
1. Navy, 37
2. Army West Point, 50
3. Boston University, 56
4. Bucknell, 126
5. Lehigh, 129
6. American, 148
7. Colgate, 215
8. Loyola, 244
9. Lafayette, 256
10. Holy Cross, 270
First-Team All-Patriot League (Men): 1. Murphy Smith, Navy, Jr.; 2. Samuel Keeny, Navy, Sr.; 3. Alexander Kirkland, Navy, Jr.; 4. Parker Schneider, Boston University, So.; 5. Marc Baroncini, Army West Point, So.; 6. Thomas Smigo, Lehigh, Fr.; 7. Erick Lara, Army West Point, Sr.
Second-Team All-Patriot League (Men): 8. Isaac Morris, Army West Point, Jr.; 9. Robert Hannon, Boston University, Jr.; 10. Freddy Collins, Boston University, So.; 11. Anthony Diaz, Army West Point, So.; 12. Kaden Kluth, American, So.; 13: Matt Mason, Boston University, Jr.; 14. Aidan Lynch, Lehigh, Jr.
Men’s 8K Championship Recap
Navy (37) junior Murphy Smith claimed his first Patriot League individual title with an 8K time of 24:27.4, while teammates Sam Keeny and Alexander Kirkland finished second and third with times of 24:46.3 and 24:48.5, respectively. The sweep in the top three places was enough to carry the Midshipmen to the team title.
Army West Point (50) finished second in the team standings, while the Boston University Terriers (56) finished third. The Black Knights saw Marc Baroncini (25:00.8) and Erick Lara (25:09.0) earn first-team All-League honors, while the Terriers’ Parker Schneider (24:55.5) earned first-team All-League honors with his fourth-place finish.
Bucknell (126) finished fourth after seeing its five scorers finish between 22nd and 28th, while Lehigh (129 ) claimed fifth-place behind a sixth-place finish from Rookie of the Meet Thomas Smigo with his 25:04.2 time. American (148), Colgate (215), Loyola (244), Lafayette (256), and Holy Cross (270) rounded out the field.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete 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.