For Immediate Release: October 10, 2003

Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist

Oneonta Hosts 2003 SUNYAC Cross Country Championships This Weekend

FREDONIA, NY – The 2003 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, October 25th at Fortin Park in Oneonta, NY. The women’s race will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by the men’s race at noon.

            The men and women’s teams from Geneseo are capable of capturing their fourth championships in succession. Both teams are ranked in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Polls and return several top 15-finishers from last year’s meet.

            The Geneseo women are led by senior Joanna Zieno (Fairport/Fairport), last year’s fourth place finisher at the SUNYAC Championships, and sophomores Kelly Owens (Baldwinsville/Baker), Sally Briggs (Fishkill/John Jay), and Rachel Stein (Warwick/Warwick Valley). Owens (8th), Briggs (10th), and Stein (11th) all were Top15-finishers a year ago. The Knights also return senior Kate Hack (Hopewell Junction/John Jay), who along with Zieno, Stein and Briggs, participated at nationals last year where they finished 15th out of 24 schools. Geneseo is ranked 7th in Division III in the latest national polls.

            Cortland looks to be the Knights’ top threat as they return three top 15-finishers from last year. Senior Betsy Shultz (Akron/Akron) finished 15th in 2001 and improved to 6th at last year’s meet. The Red Dragons also return Brianne Capasso (Corinth/Corinth) and Becca Foulger (Watertown/South Jefferson), who finished 9th and 14th, respectively in 2002. Last year’s third-place finisher, Oswego, returns senior Susan McWilliams (Central Square/Mexico) who will attempt to improve upon her 5th place finish.

            The Geneseo men have two top-15 finishers from the 2002 SUNYAC meet. Matt Young (Geneseo/Geneseo) took 6th and Jeff Beck (Fairport/Fairport) finished 11th last year for the Oswego Lakers before transferring to Geneseo for the fall season. The Knights are currently ranked 13th in the nation among Division III schools.

            Six other teams boast returning top-15 finishers from 2002 and each hopes to vie for this year’s cross country title. Fredonia’s Jim Sweeney (Albany/Guilderland) and Buffalo State’s A.J. Walsh (Hamburg/Frontier) both finished in the top five a year ago, while Brockport's Scott Austin (Brockport/Caledonia) New Paltz’s Dan Holton (Rhinebeck/Rhinebeck) finished 7th and 9th, respectively. Oneonta’s Brian Suozzo (Franklin/Franklin) returns as a 10th place-finisher from a year ago and Plattsburgh’s Paul Widjeskog (Stuyvesant/Ichabod Crane) is back after finishing 14th.

2002 SUNYAC Women’s Cross Country Championship Results

1.         Geneseo                        22

2.         Cortland                        47

3.         Oswego                       102

4.         Buffalo State                160

4.         Fredonia                      160

6.         Brockport                    164

7.         Plattsburgh                   172

8.         New Paltz                    193

9.         Potsdam                       227

2002 SUNYAC Men’s Cross Country Championship Results

1.         Geneseo                       60

2.         Brockport                     86

3.         Plattsburgh                    97

4.         New Paltz                    111

5.         Cortland                      126

6.         Buffalo State                138

7.         Oswego                       163

8.         Fredonia                      177

9.         Oneonta                       193

10.       Potsdam                       329