Women's Cross Country | 10/28/2023 8:11:32 AM
VICTOR, NY – Nazareth University used a balanced effort to earn its first Empire 8 Cross Country title in program history, as the Golden Flyers won the 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country Championship at Parkview Fairways hosted by Nazareth University on Saturday, October 28. Houghton University sophomore Noelle Linenfelser won her first individual title, finishing nearly nine seconds ahead of the field over the 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:38.8. Linenfelser's winning time was the fastest 6,000-meter E8 Championship race time in league history since that distance was adopted in 2017.
The Golden Flyers had three of the top five finishers to win a very competitive team title with a score of 34 points, over three-time defending champion St. John Fisher University, who finished second with 42 points. Houghton University placed third overall with 82 team points, while Utica University finished fourth with 127 points. Russell Sage College, Alfred University, Hartwick College and Keuka College rounded out the team scoring.
Linenfelser, the 2022 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, emerged from a bunched up lead pack runners over the final 2,000-meters to earn the individual victory by just under nine seconds over Emily Weaver of Nazareth. Riley Jameson of St. John Fisher was third overall in a time of 21:53.1, whilethe Nazareth duo of Ella Impaglia and Lilianna Hanning placed fourth and fifth respectively. Impaglia crossed the finish line in 21:58.8, while Hanning completed the race in 22:06.8.
Russell Sage College junior Elizabeth Ingellis earned her second straight All-Empire 8 first team accolade, placing sixth overall in 22:14.2, while St. John Fisher's Lauren DeMichele was seventh in 22:15.9 to round out the top-seven and garner her third straight All-E8 first team honor.
The All-Conference selections will be announced by the league in November. Runners who finished first through seventh will be All-E8 first team selections, while runners who finished 8-14 are second team selections and the 15th-21st place finishers will be third team selections.
Runners will be action on November 11 at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships from Field of Dreams Park at Houghton University in Houghton, NY.
2023 Empire 8 Women's Cross Country Championship Results
Nazareth - 34 (Team Champion)
St. John Fisher - 42
Houghton - 82
Utica - 127
Russell Sage - 149
Alfred - 157
Hartwick - 178
Keuka - 209
2023 Empire 8 Women's Cross Country Individual Champion/Most Outstanding Runner
Noelle Linenfelser, So., Houghton - 21:38.8
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished 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 E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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