Women's Cross Country | 11/26/2019 2:25:03 PM
Utica College graduate student Kaitlyn Stinson was named Runner of the Year for the third consecutive season, as the Empire 8 announced its 2019 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference awards on Tuesday, November 26. The individual awards are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
St. John Fisher College first-year standout Riley Corey was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, while the Houghton College coaching staff, led by head coach Patrick Hager, was named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year.
Stinson wrapped up her collegiate career in fine fashion this season, culminating with an impressive 17th place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship on Nov. 16, in which she qualified for nationals for the second straight year. At nationals, Stinson earned Utica’s best individual finish in program history. On Oct. 5, Stinson ran a season-best time of 22:53.1 over 6,000-meters at the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh University. A four-time 2019 Empire 8 Runner of the Week, Stinson was also runner-up at the Empire 8 Championship on Nov. 2 and won the SUNY Poly Wildcat Classic Invitational on Sept. 21. Stinson ends her tremendous career at Utica as a three-time Empire 8 Runner of the Year and four-time All-Empire 8 first team selection.
Corey enjoyed a tremendous first season for the Cardinals in 2019. She finished third overall at the Empire 8 Championship over her home course on Nov. 2 in a season-best time of 23:32.1 over 6,000-meters. She was also the top freshman finisher among all Empire 8 runners at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship. Corey, a three-time Empire 8 Runner of the Week, was the individual winner at the ESF Mighty Oak Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 19 and placed fourth overall at the Houghton Highlander Invitational. She led the Cardinals to a runner-up finish at the Empire 8 Championship.
The Houghton coaching staff, led by head coach Patrick Hager was honored as the 2019 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. Hager led Houghton to its first Empire 8 Championship. In addition, he mentored five all-league selections, including league champion Shelby Langlois and fellow first team picks Emily Blosdale and Amanda Burrichter.
The Empire 8 first and second team selections were determined at the championship meet on Nov. 2 at St. John Fisher. The top-10 finishers earned first team honors, while finishers 11-20 garnered second team accolades. Langlois of Houghton was the individual champion, winning the race by six seconds on her way to earning her third straight All-Empire 8 first team honor. Deirdre Brett of Nazareth picked up her second straight first team accolade.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2019 Women's Cross Country Sportswoman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
2019 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Selections
Runner of the Year: Kaitlyn Stinson, Gr., Utica
Rookie of the Year: Riley Corey, Fr., St. John Fisher
Coach of the Year: Patrick Hager, Houghton
Empire 8 First Team
Emily Blosdale, Sr., Houghton
Amanda Burrichter, Fr., Houghton
Shelby Langlois, Sr., Houghton
Deidre Brett, Jr., Nazareth
Erin Reyner, So., Nazareth
Kerry Flower, So., Sage
Riley Corey, Fr., St. John Fisher
Gabriella Dunkelberg, Sr., St. John Fisher
Taylor Kennard, Sr., St. John Fisher
Kaitlyn Stinson, Gr., Utica
Empire 8 Second Team
Anna Hardiman, Sr., Houghton
Shannon Pigott, Jr., Houghton
Kelly Artini, Jr., Nazareth
Claire Bargabos, So., Nazareth
Kristin McAlonen, So., Sage
Alivia Collins, So., St. John Fisher
Grace Cummings, Fr., St. John Fisher
Morgan Gould, So., St. John Fisher
Kristin Daino, Jr., Utica
Jessica Ostrowski, Jr., Utica
Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year
Morgan Brothers, Jr., Alfred
Claire Preisch, Jr., Elmira
Abby Meltzer, Sr., Hartwick
Shannon Pigott, Sr., Houghton
Erin Reyner, So., Nazareth
Amanda Jones, Jr., Sage
Alivia Collins, So., St. John Fisher
Sarinna Cannavo, Sr., Utica