FREDONIA, NY – The 2001 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Cross Country championships will be held Saturday, October 20 on the campus of SUNY New Paltz. The Men's Championship race will begin at 11 a.m., and the Women's Championship race at noon.

Geneseo's men and women are looking to repeat as conference champions after running away with both crowns at the 2000 SUNYAC championships. The Knights' head coach 2000 Coach of the Year, Mike Woods, has several returnees who finished in the top fifteen last year. The Geneseo women scored 24 points last year and have six of their seven returning runners that placed in the top twelve. Geneseo has the top three returnees and leading the way is Jen Rettke, the 2000 SUNYAC Cross Country Champion. Right behind her is teammate and second place finisher Melissa White, Erin McDonald who placed fifth and Julie Finn who placed seventh. Oswego placed second with 76 points and had two top 15 finishers. The Lakers were led by returning sophomore Susan McWilliams who finished eighth. Cortland was third with 80 points and has a returning tenth place finisher in Arien Baker. Plattsburgh, who finished fourth in team results, returns sixth place finisher Amy Tolosky.

The Geneseo men's team has four of their five top fourteen finishers and scored 42 points. Leading the way, with the top returning time is John Kennedy who was last year's runner up. Tony Gallo placed fourth last year and has the second best returning time. New Paltz had three runners in the top twelve and finished second in last year's race, with sixth place finisher and returnee Phil Goodwin leading the Hawks. Fredonia will be looking for someone to step up and help the team improve on their third place finish after the graduation of the 2000 men's SUNYAC Champion, Vinnie Derocco, and top 10 finisher Darren Towers. Oswego's Rich Friedrich, the fifth place finisher with the third best returning time, will seek to help his team improve after finishing fourth in the team standings.

2001 will mark the first year that Potsdam (men and women) and Utica/Room (women) will have cross-country teams in the SUNYAC Championships.

2000 Results

Men

1. Geneseo 42

2. New Paltz 70

3. Fredonia 85

4. Oswego 112

5. Brockport 119

6. Plattsburgh 143

7. Buffalo State 153

8. Cortland 185

9. Oneonta 284

Women

1. Geneseo 24

2. Oswego 76

3. Cortland 80

4. Plattsburgh 95

5. Fredonia 173

6. Buffalo State 181

Brockport 181

8. Oneonta 188

9. New Paltz 199

Dr. Patrick R. Damore, Commissioner
Phone: (716) 673-3105
Fax: (716) 673-3135
Hotline: 1-877-299-4011

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