Scranton Posts Several High Finishes at Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-Three members of The University of Scranton men's and women's cross-country teams posted top five finishes at the Vassar Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Leading the way for the Royal men was senior Rob Olechna (Scranton, Pa./Scranton), who covered the 8000-meter course in a first-place time of 28:20, five seconds ahead of freshman teammate Chris Wasnetsky (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'Hara), who placed second in 28:25. Setting the pace for the Royal women was senior Becky Prial (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley), who finished second over the 3-mile course in 19:39, 15 seconds behind individual champion Laura Coogan of Vassar College.

Rounding out the top five for the Scranton men were sophomores Marcos Taboas (Newark, N.J./St. Benedict's; 12th, 30:22), Joe Larramendia (Bernardville, N.J./Bernards; 28th, 31:47) and Joe Gallagher (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal Central; 60th, 35:02). The Royals placed third in the 11-team field with 90 behind Vassar (52) and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (60).

Prial was followed in the lineup by sophomore Stephanie Huth (Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross) and freshman Katherine Sullivan (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic) in 13th (20:57) and 23rd (21:29), respectively, followed by senior Allison Martyn (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and sophomore Nicole Huth (Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross) in 33rd (22:05) and 36th (22:08). The Royal women placed fifth in the 14-team field with 104 points. Vassar captured the team title with 63 points, followed by St. Rose (86), Stevens Institute of Technology (95) and New Paltz (100).

Olechna's first-place finish was the first of his career and his top showing since a fourth-place finish at the Lebanon Valley Invitational on September 9, 2006. Prial recorded the 10th top 10 finish in her career.

The Royals will return to action on Saturday, September 22, at the Cougar Classic to be held at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.