AU cross country teams compete at Saratoga, Empire 8 championships
11/01/09

SARATOGA, NY – The Alfred University men’s and women’s cross country teams competed Saturday at Saratoga in a meet hosted by RPI. The meet also served as the Empire 8 Conference championships.

The Alfred women finished third of six Empire 8 teams competing in the meet and were seventh overall of 13 teams competing. The AU men were sixth of seven conference teams competing and placed 12th of 13 teams overall.

Sophomore Elisabeth Phillips-Jones (Watertown, MA/Watertown) earned Second Team all-Empire 8 Conference honors by placing 12th among runners from Empire 8 schools. She finished 24th overall, completing the five-kilometer course in 19:21.46. Other top runners for the AU women were senior Rachel Gaylord (Elmira, NY/Horseheads), 47th overall and 23rd Empire 8 (20:15.18); junior Melissa Haahr (Tioga, NY/Owego), 48th overall and 24th Empire 8 (2:21.46); and junior Kate LePore (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue), 49th overall and 25th Empire 8 (20:25.90).

Senior Corey Smith (Albion, NY/Albion) was the AU men’s top runner, completing the 8-K course in 28:23.10 to finish 42nd overall and 21st among Empire 8 runners. Sophomore Ken Noll (Valaltie, NY/Ichabod Crane) was 50th overall and 26th Empire 8 (28:47.06) and senior Jim Thierman (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) was 52nd overall and 28th Empire 8 (28:50.21).

The AU men’s and women’s teams are in action next on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the NCAA Atlantic Regional meet at Letchworth State Park.