December 1, 2008
Representing Syracuse University for the first time in program history as a team, the No. 25 ranked women's cross country lineup finished in 28th out of 31 teams at the 2008 Division I Cross Country Championship on Monday afternoon. The Orange women were led by senior Nana Sang-Bender in her final race for SU.
Juniors Dan Busby and Brad Miller, SU's two male representatives at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, ran individually and garnered an 83rd and a 127th place finish out of 252 men in the 10K.
Sang-Bender, a 2008 All-BIG EAST and All-Northeast Regional member, finished up her prolific four-year with a time of 21:20 for 93rd place, bettering 159 other participants. The Syracuse, N.Y. product was named to the all-conference and all-region teams three times as a member of the Orange distance team.
Sophomore Catherine Desarle finished up strong second place showing for the Orange contingent with a time of 21:37 for 119th place. Junior Maegan Krifchin closed out the season in 21:45 for 137th. First-year harriers Lauren Penney and Lauryn MacFawn showed promise with their respective times of 21:49 and 21:59 for 145th and 164th, overall. Sophomore Rebekah MacKay navigated through the 6K course in 22:04 for a 170th place label while freshman Heather Stephens crossed the tape in 22:22 for 187th.
Monday afternoon's race ended the 2008 collegiate cross country chase, but the distance runners will continue to compete for SU as the first indoor track and field meet is just weeks away. The Orange will enter the Cornell Relays in Ithaca, N.Y. on Saturday, December 6, to initiate the 2008-09 track and field season.
November 17, 2008
For the first time in women's program history, Syracuse University's cross country team qualified as a whole for the NCAA Championship by finishing in second place at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship Saturday afternoon.
The Orange was driven by senior Nana Sang-Bender's individual fourth-place finish of 21:35.6 in the 6K, the highest placing a female SU distance runner has claimed in program history. The top two teams in each regional, nine in all, automatically earn a spot in the final race. There are 13 at-large teams that also can land a spot in the national championship race.
The men's team finished in fifth place, overall, led by juniors Brad Miller and Dan Busby. Miller's ninth-place individual time of 32:01.2 in the first 10K race of the season was the fourth time in seven tries where Miller directed the rest of the Orange men. Busby tallied another SU top ten finish, claiming 10th by finishing up in 32:03.3. For their efforts, Miller and Busby will join the women on their trip to Terre Haute, Ind. on Monday, November 24, to the NCAA Championship as individual qualifiers.
Last season, seniors Jeff Scull and Sang-Bender represented the Orange at the 2007 NCAA Championship race as eligible individuals.
In addition to Sang-Bender and the rest of the SU women's distinguished feats, six Orange harriers, including four women and two men, were named to the 2008 Division I Northeast Region USTFCCCA All-Region Team. On the women's side, Sang-Bender, along with junior Maegan Krifchin, sophomore Rebekah Mackay and freshman Lauren Penney, joined 21 other female student-athletes from the Northeast Region to complete the list.
Miller and Busby also received the merit of being named to the 25-man All-Region Team. For Busby, it was the second time he's been named to the Northeast All-Region Team. Miller's exceptional season earned him his first All-Region distinction.
November 10, 2008
The Orange cross country team had the weekend off from competition in preparation for the NCAA Regional Championship this Saturday, November 15. Syracuse returns to Van Cortlandt Park located in Bronx, N.Y., the site of the 2008 BIG EAST Championship.
The SU harriers were led by junior Brad Miller with a fourth-place jaunt in a time of 24:37 on the 8K course whereas senior Nana Sang-Bender shouldered the women by wrapping up her last conference meet in 14th place in the 6K with an outing of 20:59. Both the men and women's teams finished in fifth place overall.
Junior Dan Busby delivered a 19th place finish of 25:08 while three freshmen furnished SU with times of 25:31, 25:39 and 25:50. Pat Dupont, Griff Graves and Steve Weeks picked up 33rd, 38th and 43rd place, in that order. Sophomores Stephen Murdock and Curtis Bixler brought in times of 25:59 and 26:20 for 50th and 65th place, ion that order.
For the women, junior Maegan Krifchin continued her hard-fought season with a 19th place run of 21:13. Another medley of underclassmen represented Syracuse in remaining spots with freshman Heather Stephens leading the charge of first or second year harriers in 26th place with a measure of 21:16. Freshman Lauren Penney was clocked in 21:31 for 30th place while sophomore Catherine Desarle's stretch of 21:45 earned her a 40th place ranking. First-year runner Lauryn Macfawn and sophomores Rebekah Mackay and Katie Hursey concluded Friday's conference meet nine seconds within each other in 47th, 51st and 53rd place by breaking the tape in 22:00, 22:06 and 22:09, respectively. Freshman Carly Hamond rounded out the Orange effort in 76th place with a spell of 22:54.
If the Orange place well within the ranks of the Northeast region, Syracuse has a shot to take part in the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. The race would be run on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course hosted by Indiana State University.
October 27, 2008
The Syracuse men and women's cross country teams dominated the local competition in the 22nd annual John Reif Memorial Run at the Moakley Course on Friday afternoon hosted by Cornell University. Sophomore Katie Hursey emerged victorious in the women's 5K run, bolting past 54 other runners in a time of 18:44. Freshman Natalie Busby finished in second place with a clip of 19:05. Rounding out SU's top ten performers were sophomore Liz McCarter with a seventh-place time of 19:26 and junior Lisa Giacometti in ninth place with a pace of 19:45.
The men responded in similar fashion as the women when freshman Forrest Misenti dominated the five-mile race in a winning-time of 26:15. Freshman Brady Becker came in 10 seconds behind Misenti for third place in 26:25. Freshman Zach Rivers, sophomore Erin Schrim and junior Anthony Socotch completed the Orange's top ten finishers. Rivers completed the run in 26:53 for seventh place, Schirm crossed the finish line in a ninth-place effort of 27:01 and Socotch claimed 10th place by running to the tune of 27:20.
This Friday, October 31, Syracuse will run in the BIG EAST Championship in Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y. In last year's conference finale, senior Nana Sang-Bender led the Syracuse women to a program-best fourth-place overall finish while senior Jeff Scull led the Orange men to a fifth-place overall finish at the 2007 BIG EAST Championship.
October 20, 2008
The 26th-ranked men's cross team and 30th-ranked women's distance runners tested the site of the NCAA Cross Country Championship Saturday afternoon at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course hosted by Indiana State University.
The women's distance runners competed in the White Race and placed 11th out of 39 teams with senior Nana Sang-Bender leading the charge for the Orange as a result of her team-leading time of 21:16. Sang-Bender, SU's leader for the women's efforts at last year's Pre-Nationals race, finished in 44th place out of 281 individuals in the 6K.
The Orange men claimed 15th place out of 41 teams in the Blue Race at the Pre-Nationals event while junior Brad Miller powered Syracuse for the second straight competition. Miller placed 17th out of 276 runners with a time of 24:02 in the 8K trial. Two weeks ago at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa., Miller directed SU with a fifth-place finish of 23:58.
Junior Jay Koloseus followed up Miller's feat with a 40th place time of 24:21 whereas former BIG EAST Athlete of the Week junior Dan Busby finished out his day with a beat of 25:05 for 120th place. Sophomore Steven Weeks ran in his second race of the season for the Orange, earning 130th place in a time of 25:08. Freshmen Tito Medrano and Griff Graves rounded out the Orange contingent with times of 25:23 and 25:42, respectively, for 160th and 198th.
Junior Maegan Krifchin, SU's strongest runner in the previous two races, produced a time of 21:40 for 76th place. Freshman Heather Stephens and sophomore Catherine Desarle crossed the tape together in 21:45 for 83rd and 84th place, in that order. Sophomore Lauren MacKay concluded the 6K in 21:47 for 88th place and freshman Lauren Penney secured 90th place in 21:49. Junior Stefanie Slekis completed her third race of 2008 in 23:27 for 229th.
Syracuse has one final tune-up next Friday, Oct. 24, at the John Reif Memorial in Ithaca, N.Y. before the Orange invades Van Cortlandt Park, N.Y. for the BIG EAST Championship on Friday, Oct. 31. Last year, the Syracuse men took fifth and the women placed fourth at the conference's culmination.
October 13, 2008
The Syracuse men and women’s cross country ran their third run of the season at the 35th annual Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University on Friday, Oct. 3. Led by junior Brad Miller’s fifth-place individual finish of 23:58, the 30th ranked men’s squad picked up second place out of 45 teams. The women claimed fifth-place out of 43 teams as junior Maegan Krifchin led the Orange for the second race in a row with a 19th place time of 20:54.
Syracuse swept both the men’s and women’s team finishes in its first two races at the Harry Lang Invitational (9/6/08) and the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational (9/13/08) to start the season.
Junior Dan Busby turned in a first-place performance of 25:58 on the 5.2 mile course at the Harry Groves Invite while junior Maegan Krifchin’s second-place effort of 21:39 led the women.
In SU’s first race, the Orange was spearheaded by junior Curtis Bixler and freshman Lauryn MacFawn, as the two SU harriers turned in first-place times of 19:05.00 and 17:00.00, respectively.
The Orange ventures back to Pennsylvania in a couple weeks when both the men’s and women’s teams tackle the terrain in Terre Haute, Ind. at the Pre-Nationals on Saturday, Oct. 18.
October 6, 2008
The Syracuse men and women’s cross country teams finished up their third run of the season at the 35th annual Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University on Friday afternoon. Led by junior Brad Miller’s fifth-place individual finish of 23:58, the 30th ranked men’s squad picked up second place out of 45 teams. The women claimed fifth-place out of 43 teams as junior Maegan Krifchin led the Orange for the second race in a row with a 19th place time of 20:54.
Former BIG EAST Athlete of the Week junior Dan Busby crossed the tape behind Miller for eighth-place in 24:02. Junior Jay Koloseus looped the 8k track for 12th place in 24:07 while senior Jeff Scull closed out his day in 24th with a time of 24:23. Freshman Tito Medrano (24:41), sophomore Steve Murdock (24:50) and freshman Griff Graves (25:24) collected concluded the race in 47th, 62nd, and 124th, in that order.
Senior Nana Sang-Bender wrapped up just two seconds behind Krifchin in 20:56 for 20th place. Freshmen Heather Stephens and Lauren Penney 32nd and 39th place times in 21:15 and 21:26 while sophomore Catherine Desarle finished in 40th and crossed in 21:27. Junior Stefanie Skekis closed out the 6k run in 21:39 for 56th place while sophomore Katie Hursey rounded out the Orange line-up in 70th with a time of 21:51.
The Orange ventures back to Pennsylvania in a couple weeks when both the men’s and women’s teams run against top competition at the National Open in State College, Pa. on Friday, Oct. 17. On Saturday, the 18th, Syracuse will get an early crack at tackling the terrain in Terre Haute, Ind. at the Pre-Nationals.
September 29, 2008
The Orange is gearing up for its first big meet of the season on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. hosted by Lehigh University.
Last year at the Paul Short, the Syracuse men placed second in a field of 41 teams, and the Orange women finished sixth out of 47 squads. Senior Jeff Scull led the SU men with an eighth-place finish and senior Nana Sang-Bender finished 14th to pace the women.
After the Orange men's and women's two team victories this season, the USTFCCCA reward SU for its efforts. The Orange opens the season listed as the 28th team in the country; its highest ranking in preseason history. The women’s runners received votes in the national poll for the first time in their history, as well.
In addition to Syracuse's two wins for both the men and women, the Orange has also solidified three out of four individual first-place finishes. Sophomore Curtis Bixler and freshman Lauryn MacFawn ran for individual first-place finishes at the Harry Lang Invitational on Sept. 6. Junior Dan Busby emerged to the forefront for the men’s sweep at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational while the women were led by junior Maegan Krifchin’s second-place run.
September 22, 2008
Cross country did not compete this week, but the Orange still made headlines for SU.
The Syracuse men’s cross country team received its first national preseason ranking in program history when the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the Division I men’s cross country poll on Tuesday.
The Orange opens the season listed as the 28th team in the country.
On Monday, Sept. 15, the USTFCCCA released its initial regional preseason polls, ranking the Syracuse men’s team third out of 15 squads in the Northeast Region.
The women’s runners received votes in the national poll for the first time in their history, as well.
The Orange women will run its third race on Oct. 3 rated the fourth best team in the Northeast Region.
In its first two meets, Syracuse has won both the men’s and women’s team races. The Orange has also solidified three out of four individual first-place finishes. Sophomore Curtis Bixler and freshman Lauryn MacFawn ran for individual first-place finishes at the Harry Lang Invitational on Sept. 6. Junior Dan Busby emerged to the forefront for the men’s sweep at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational while the women were led by junior Maegan Krifchin’s second-place run.
The Syracuse men’s and women’s harriers return to the trails on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. hosted by Lehigh University.
September 15, 2008
Men's Results
Women's Results
The Syracuse men’s and women’s cross country teams swept the competition with first-place finishes at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational hosted by Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Orange men and women have claimed the top spots the last two weeks in each of their respective races.
The men’s harriers dominated the field, led by junior Dan Busby’s first-place performance of 25:58 on the 5.2 mile course. In addition to Busby’s top finish, the Orange turned in a perfect 15 points, sweeping the remaining top five slots.
Following up on junior Maegan Krifchin’s second-place individual finish was senior Nana Sang-Bender who finished in third-place in 21:48.
The Orange has a two week hiatus before competing at the Paul Short Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3 in Bethlehem, Pa. hosted by Lehigh University. SU eyes down its third consecutive first-place sweep in 2008.
September 8, 2008
Men's Results
Women's Results
The Syracuse men's and women's "B" cross country teams dominated the competition at the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate University. SU claimed the top three individual spots and placed four in the top five in each of their respective races. Team wise, the Orange men placed 25 points ahead of its nearest competitor, Colgate, while the women clipped the Raiders by 11 points.
The Orange was spearheaded by junior Curtis Bixler and freshman Lauryn MacFawn, as the two SU harriers turned in times of 19:05.00 and 17:00.00, respectively. The men trekked a 6K course while the women rounded a 4,200-meter loop.
For the men's 6K run, the results are as follows: SYRACUSE (19 points – First place), Colgate (44 points – Second place), Delhi College (76 points – Third place), Nazareth College (96 points – Fourth place), Mohawk Valley (107 points – Fifth place) and St. Bonaventure (125 points – sixth place).
The women's 4,200-meter results are as follows: SYRACUSE (22 points – First place), Colgate (33 points – Second place), Nazareth College (75 points – Third place), Mohawk Valley (86 points – Fourth place), St. Bonaventure (118 points - Fifth place), Delhi (135 points – Sixth place) and Herkimer (161 points – Seventh place).
The Syracuse men's and women's cross country teams return to action next Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational in University Park, Pa.
September 1, 2008
The Orange cross country team warmed up this weekend at the SU Alumni / Open / Time Trial, but the real action begins this Saturday, September 6, when Syracuse treks to Hamilton, N.Y. to run against the competition at the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate University.
Syracuse began its season at the same race last season when sophomore Erin Schirm posted a first-place finish in the 6,000-meter run and previous senior Jillian Kosinski tallied a fifth-place finish in the 4,200-meter run to lead the men’s and women’s cross country teams.
The men’s team claimed first-place and women took home second place in the 2007 opener.
Following the Harry Lang Invite, SU travels south to University Park, Pa. to battle the masses at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Saturday, September 13.
August 25, 2008
The Syracuse Cross Country team is gearing up for their first event of the season, the Harry Lang Invitational, on Saturday, September 6 in Hamilton, N.Y.
Last season, the Orange were lead by sophomore Erin Schrim at the Harry Lang when he captured first place in 6,000-meter run with a time of 19:33.00. Sophomore Michael Brock’s pace of 19:39.00 placed him one notch below his teammate for second.
The Orange runners hope to duplicate another great finish in their first race of the season.
Fresh off one of the most successful seasons in SU history, the Orange will attempt to feed off of senior Jeff Scull’s accomplishment last year. Scull represented the Syracuse cross country team at the NCAA Division I Championships hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. Scull, a 2007 All-BIG EAST and Northeast All-Region honoree, was one of 38 individual automatic qualifiers.
On the women’s side, senior Nana Sang-Bender, juniors Maegan Krifchin and Stefanie Slekis and sophomore Katie Hursey are poised to stabilize the women’s efforts in 2008.
