Crusader Men Run To Landmark Cross Country Title
TOWSON, Md. - One point separated Susquehanna and Juniata in the final team scoring at the inaugural Landmark Conference Men's Cross Country Championship.
The Crusaders edged the Eagles for the title, 52-53. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy placed third with 95 points, followed by Scranton (111 points) in fourth, Goucher (125) in fifth, Catholic (134) in sixth, Moravian (140) in seventh and Drew (255) in eighth.
Susquehanna also produced the individual champion of the 8,000-meter race in Paul Thistle. Thistle's winning time of 27:37 is also a new course record.
The runner-up was Scranton's Chris Wasnetsky, who posted a time of 27:57. In balloting by the conference's eight head coaches, Thistle was chosen the Outstanding Male Performer for 2007 in the Landmark Conference and Wasnetsky was selected Rookie Male Runner of the Year.
Juniata's top runner was Matt Bailey, who placed third with his time of 28:14.
The other runners who made up the All-Landmark Conference first team by finishing seventh or higher were Keith Wagner from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (28:20) in fourth, Eric Hoover from Juniata (28:28) in fifth, Jeremiah Reinhart from Moravian (28:35) in sixth and Andrew Smith from Catholic (28:37) in seventh.
The all-conference second team consisted of the next seven runners: 8. Joe Ramsey, Susquehanna (28:38); 9. Sam Williams, Juniata (28:49); 10. Jason Hoover, Juniata (28:50); 11. Robert Olechna, Scranton (28:54); 12. Connor Skutches, Moravian (28:59); 13. J.J. Brooks, Susquehanna (29:00); and 14. Jentre Diebler, Susquehanna (29:03).
There were a total of 69 runners in the race.