Twice as Nice! Utica Takes Home Men's and Women's Empire 8 Cross Country Titles

10/27/2018 9:53:41 PM

ALFRED, N.Y. - The Utica women's cross country team posted just 58 team points and had four top 20 finishers on its way to a second consecutive Empire 8 Conference Championship on a wet and rainy day at Alfred's Jericho Hill Course Saturday afternoon. Nazareth's Hayley Cronin finished first crossing the tape in a time of 25:52.67. The fresman used a devastating kick over the final 150 yards to claim the title.

Utica narrowly edged Stevens to claim the E8 title once again in 2018. Nazareth finished third, while Houghton finished fourth on a rainy, chilly day in western, New York. For the complete list of team results, see below.

The champion Pioneers were led by Kaitlyn Stinson, who was the top finisher for Utica in the 6-kilometer race as she placed second overall with a time of 26:01.08 to pull in first team all-conference honors for the third straight season. Renee Lewis continued her stellar senior campaign as she registered a time of 26:23.61 and placed sixth overall. Sophomore Jessica Ostrowski placed eighth overall with a time of 26:47.14. Lewis and Ostrowski also earned first team all-conference honors for the second straight season.

Utica now has four first place team finishes this season and returns to the course on November 10, when it participates in the NCAA Atlantic Regional hosted by Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J.

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Utica - 58
2. Stevens - 63
3. Nazareth - 67
4. Houghton - 77
5. St. John Fisher - 95
6. Hartwick - 178
7. Sage - 180
8. Elmira - 234
9. Alfred - 269
 
ALFRED, N.Y. - The Utica men's cross country team earned its first Empire 8 Conference Championship in program-history on Saturday as the Pioneers earned six all-conference selections and 43 team points in the 8-kilometer race. Houghton's Tyler Deuschle had no problem with the wet and rainy conditions as the race winner crossed the tape in a time of 29:58.33. His time was more than ten seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

Liam Rodgers stepped up for the Pioneers in a big way, as he posted a third-place finish with a time of 30:28.00 to earn first-team all-conference honors for the first time in his career. Utica's Tyler Sutton also posted a clutch performance as he earned his first cross country first-team all-conference accolade with a time of 30:41.05. Pioneers' junior Mitchell Marlow placed tenth overall with a time of 30:52.96 and teammate Tyler Wright placed 12^th with a time of 31:01.15. Marlow is now a two-time all-conference selection, after earning Rookie of the Year and first-team distinction back in 2016.

Utica will return to the course on November 10^th when it participates in the NCAA Atlantic Regional hosted by Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ.

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1. Utica - 43
2. St. John Fisher - 70
3. Stevens - 73
4. Houghton - 78
5. Nazareth - 91
6. Hartwick - 210
7. Alfred - 210
8. Elmira - 219
   
- Information for this release provided by the Utica athletic communications staff -

About the Empire 8 Conference
The members of the Empire 8 are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the Empire 8.