Nazareth Aims to Repeat as 2024 Empire 8 Champions as Women’s Cross Country Season Gets Underway

Women's Cross Country | 8/29/2024 9:59:01 AM

Nazareth University will look to earn its second consecutive Empire 8 Championship, as the 2024 women’s cross country season gets underway on Aug. 30. The Empire 8 Championship will take place at Field of Dreams Park, hosted by Houghton University on Saturday, Nov. 2.
 
The Empire 8 will have a new look in 2024 with SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Poly joining, giving the league 11 teams.
   
Laura Barrett, Keuka, Jr., Fuquay-Varina, NC/Southern Wake Academy – Barrett will bring experience to the Wolves as she returns from the 2023 squad.

Penelope Greene, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Sag Harbor, NY/Pierson – Greene was the 2023 SUNYAC Champion, Niagara Region Champion (finished with Houghton Field of Dreams course record time of 20:53.3) and placed third overall at the NCAA Championship (20:59.3) to earn All-American honors.
 
Brynita Haas, Hartwick, Jr., Red Creek, NY/Red Creek – An Empire 8 Athlete to Watch for the second straight year, Haas was the top finisher for the Hawks at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship, coming in at 36th overall.   
 
McKenzie Hall, Alfred, Jr., Hornell, NY/Hornell – Hall, a two-time Empire. Athlete to Watch, was a 2022 All-Empire 8 second team selection after finishing tenth overall at the league championships that season.
 
Ella Impaglia, Nazareth, Jr., Gouverneur, NY/Gouverneur – Impaglia placed fourth overall at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship, earning her a spot on the All-E8 first team. In addition, she earned All-Niagara Region accolades, placing 28th at regionals.
 
Noelle Linenfelser, Houghton, So., Grand Island, NY/Grand Island – Linenfelser was named the 2023 Empire 8 Cross Country Runner of the Year. She won the 2023 Empire 8 Individual Championship in a championship record time of 21:38.8 and was the top E8 finisher at the Niagara Region Championship, placing 21st overall.  
 
Charisma Losee, Russell Sage, Jr., Troy, NY/Lansingburgh – Losee is Russell Sage’s top returning runner, having placed in the top-50 at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship.
 
Grace McClay, SUNY Poly, So., Yorktown, NY/Yorktown – McClay finished 31st overall at the 2023 North Atlantic Conference Championship.
 
Maria Stuhlman, Utica, So., Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro – Stuhlman returns after earning All-Empire 8 third team honors in her debut season, finishing 19th overall at the E8 Championship.
 
Mia Vizcaino, SUNY Brockport, Gr., Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley – Vizcaino returns after finishing as Brockport’s top runner at both the SUNYAC (25th overall) and NCAA Atlantic Regional (72nd).

Caitlin Voloshen, St. John Fisher, Jr., Bethlehem, PA/Nazareth Area – Voloshen returns after earning All-Empire 8 second team accolades last season. She placed 12th overall at the Empire 8 Championship.
   
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers look to repeat as 2024 Empire 8 Championship with six all-conference runners returning. Junior Ella Impaglia finished fourth overall in the 2023 championship and garnered All-Niagara Region accolades. Sophomore Meghan Moyer is the reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She placed 10th overall at the 2023 E8 Championship and earned All-E8 second team honors. Graduate student Paige Ackley garnered All-E8 second team accolades in 2023 after earning third team plaudits in 2022. Sophomores Morgan Pospiech, Ava Baker, and Bailey Visinguard, who all earned Empire 8 third team accolades will look to take the next step forward in 2024 for head coach Mike Heymann, who led Nazareth to the 2023 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year award. The Golden Flyers are ranked seventh in the USTFCCCA Preseason Niagara Region poll.

St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to get back to the top of the Empire 8 after having its three-year run of league titles snapped in 2023. While St. John Fisher will look to replace four-time All-Empire 8 selections Lauren DeMichele and fellow multiple All-E8 recipients Laura Witt and Brigid McGee, head coach Mike Henchen has a strong group of returning veterans in Riley Jameson, Olivia Grinnell, Caitlin Voloshen and Allison List. Jameson enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, placing third overall at the E8 Championship to garner All-E8 first team honors, in addition to recording a top-30 finish at the NCAA Niagara Region Championship, securing All-Region honors. Voloshen was an All-E8 second team selection last season, Grinnell and List were third team picks. Newcomers Grace Caterina and Bri Hurlbut could join the team’s top 8. The Cardinals are ranked eighth in the USTFCCCA Preseason Niagara Region poll.
 
Houghton
After a strong finish at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship, Houghton looks to continue its ascent in 2024. Junior Linenfelser, the 2023 Empire 8 Cross Country Runner of the Year, headlines a strong core of returners this fall. She won the 2023 Empire 8 Individual Championship in a championship record time of 21:38.8 and was the top E8 finisher at the Niagara Region Championship, placing 21st overall. Sophomore Aria Larson returns after an All-E8 third team nod in 2024 along with senior Tabitha Clark, who earned third team honors in 2021 in addition to a top-25 finish last season. Overall, five of Houghton’s top six runners return. Newcomers Jenna Binney, Gwenna Haas and Emberlynn Nolt could make a major impact for the Highlanders in the fall.
 
Utica
Utica returns a host of talented runners from last season, including sophomore Maria Stuhlman, who garnered All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2023. Senior Jade Dening returns after earning All-Empire 8 honors for the third straight season. She was also the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. Junior Gianna Welker, a former All-E8 second team pick, in addition to juniors Brianna Salvo and Kyla Reed will take on greater roles in 2024. Maria Stuhlman will be a newcomer to watch as the fall progresses.
 
Russell Sage
The Gators of Russell Sage will look to make strides up the Empire 8 leaderboard in 2024. While Russell Sage will have to replace former All-Empire 8 selections Elizabeth Ingellis and Mackenzie Feeney, junior Charisma Losee and sophomore Hannah Maxson will look to lead the way in 2024. Losee was a top-50 finisher at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship.
 
Alfred
Alfred returns four of its top six runners from 2022 and will look to improve off last season’s fifth place finish at the Empire 8 Championship, with new head coach, Matt Phillips at the helm. Senior McKenzie Hall, a 2022 All-Empire 8 second team selection, will lead the way for the Saxons. Sophomores Annabelle Townsend and Catherine Padilla will look to take the next step forward as leaders for the Saxons in 2024 after promising debuts last year. Newcomers Mia Frazier, Alivia Kocan, and Desirea Stuart will be counted on to step in and contribute right away.
 
Hartwick
The Hawks return five student-athletes from last season’s team. Junior Brynita Haas is back after recording a 36th place finish at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship. Senior Maddy Smith will also return after being the second Hawk to cross the finish line in last year’s championship. Senior Giovanna Wall and sophomore Parker Jinkins will look to make an impact this season.
 
Keuka
Keuka will look to climb the ladder in the Empire 8 during the 2024 season under first year head coach Ryan Johnson. Junior Laura Barrett will lead the way for the Wolves this season.
 
SUNY Brockport
The Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport make their Empire 8 debut in 2024. Last season, Brockport finished fifth in the SUNYAC under head coach John Davis. Graduate student Mia Vizcaino returns after finishing as Brockport’s top runner at both the SUNYAC (25th overall) and NCAA Atlantic Regional (72nd). Seniors Leah Lloyd, Julianne Wilson and Lauren Yonko also return to lead the way. SUNY Oneonta transfer Sierra Basco will also look to contribute for the Golden Eagles this season.
 
SUNY Geneseo
National powerhouse SUNY Geneseo makes its Empire 8 debut this fall. The Knights finished their run in the SUNYAC with 12 straight league titles and 22 league championships overall, all in the last 23 seasons. Last season, Geneseo won both the SUNYAC and Niagara Region Championships and sent a team to nationals for the 23rd straight season. Geneseo placed fifth nationally at the 2023 NCAA Championships, have recorded nine straight top-10 team finishes, five top-three finishes overall and were NCAA Division III National Champions in 2005. Led by head coach Dan Moore, Geneseo returns a strong group of student-athletes from last season, including senior Penelope Greene, who was the 2023 SUNYAC Champion, Niagara Region Champion and placed third overall at the NCAA Championship to earn All-American honors. Geneseo had the top nine finishers at the 2023 SUNYAC Championship and top four finishers at the Niagara Region Championship. Lily Fowler-Connor, Katie Grossman and Sierra Doody return as top-10 finishers at the regional championship. The Knights enter the season as ranked second in the Niagara Region and are fourth in the preseason USTFCCCA Division III National poll.
 
SUNY Poly
SUNY Poly makes its Empire 8 debut in 2024 after competing in the North Atlantic Conference last season. Head coach Jerry Tine enters his first season with the Wildcats and has sophomore Grace McClay and senior Rosalea Claeys returning.
 
Final 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country Championship Results ^
Nazareth – 34 Points – League Champions
St. John Fisher – 42
Houghton – 82
Utica – 127
Russell Sage – 149
Alfred – 157
Hartwick – 178
Keuka – 209
 
^ SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Poly are making its Empire 8 debut in 2024. Brockport and Geneseo competed in the SUNYAC, while Poly competed in the North Atlantic Conference in 2023.
 
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 and YouTube
 
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