Landmark Announces Cross Country Awards

10/31/2017 12:00:00 AM

TOWSON, Md. – At the conclusion of the 2017 Landmark Cross Country Championships, Elizabethtown's Samuel Gerstenbacher and Scranton's Abby Corrgian were named the Men's and Women's Performers of the Year. The awards, along with the Rookies of the Year and Coaching Staffs of the Year were selected by the conference coaches.

Gerstenbacher dominated the cross country scene is just his sophomore season. Last year, Gerstenbacher finished fourth at the Landmark Championships and earned Rookie of the Year honors. A year later and Gerstenbacher has posted five top-20 finished in five races, including a win at the recent championships. He edged teammate Tyler Alansky by a second to claim the title, winning the race with a time of 27:27.23.

Corrigan outran two other competitors down the final stretch to win the Landmark Conference championship at Standing Stone Golf Club, marking the first time in the 38-year history of the women's cross country program at The University of Scranton that a Royal has won a conference title.

Corrigan completed the hilly 6,000-meter course in 23:13.36, edging Kelsey Brady of Elizabethtown by two seconds and Maria Anderson of Elizabethtown by a little more than five seconds. As a result of her impressive effort, she was not only named the Women's Top Performer, but the Women's Rookie of the Year as well. Before Corrigan crossed the line on Saturday afternoon, the previous best finish by a Scranton women's cross country runner in a conference championship came back in 1996 when Eileen Socorso finished second at the Middle Atlantic Conference championship.

Scranton's Jack Patwell picked up conference Rookie of the Year honors as the first newcomer across the line. He finished 17th with a time of 29:04.33, right behind two teammates.

First Team All-Conference honors are awarded to the top seven finishers in each race with those finishing eighth through 14th are awarded Second Team honors. Joining Gerstenbacher on the men's First Team are Elizabethtown teammates Tyler Alansky and Ryan Rippeon. Moravian's Greg Jaindl placed third for the Greyhounds. Juniata had three runners make the All-Conference First Team. Peter D'Amico led the pack with a fourth place finished. Evan Ulrich and Desmond O'Donovan rounded out the first team. Four of the top-seven runners were Second Team selections a year ago.

Juniata Head Coach Jon Cutirght and his staff were voted Men's Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight season. The Eagles finished with six runners in the top-14.

The women's First Team was a familiar sight with Elizabethtown places six runners in the top-14. Along with Corrigan, Elizabethtown's Kesley Brady and Maria Anderson finished second and third respectively. Anderson's final time was 23:18.72, also her best championship finish and third consecutive All-Landmark First Team performance. Susquehanna's Erin Reese made the biggest climb amongst the First Team All-Conference performers, jumping up from a 17th place finish last year to fourth this year. Colleen Kernan, Brenna McNamee, and Kaitlin Donahue rounded out the First Team selections.

For Kernan, it was her third all-conference honor and first on the First Team. McNamee also earned her third straight all-conference honor, all on the First Team.

Brian Falk is in his 10th season as the Elizabethtown women's cross country team. This marks the fourth straight year the veteran head coach and his staff have earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

2017 Cross Country Awards

Men's Performer of the Year	Men's Rookie of the Year	Men's Coach of the Year	Women's Performer of the Year	Women's Rookie of the Year	Women's Coach of the Year
Samuel Gerstenbacher Elizabethtown	Jack Patwell Scranton	Jon Cutright Juniata	Abby Corrigan Scranton	Abby Corrigan Scranton	Brian Falk Elizabethtown

Men's First Team				Women's First Team
Tyler Alansky	Elizabethtown	Jr.	Downingtown, Pa.	Brenna McNamee	Elizabethtown	Sr.	Downingtown, Pa.
Samuel Gerstenbacher	Elizabethtown	So.	Pittsgrove, N.J.	Colleen Kernan	Elizabethtown	Jr.	Finksburg, Md.
Ryan Rippeon	Elizabethtown	So.	Westminster, Md.	Kaitlin Donahue	Elizabethtown	Fr.	Sewell, N.J.
Peter D'Amico	Juniata	So.	Hummelstown, Pa	Kelsey Brady	Elizabethtown	Sr.	Churchville, Pa.
Desmond O'Donovan	Juniata	So.	Philadelphia, Pa.	Maria Anderson	Elizabethtown	Sr.	Newark, Del.
Evan Ulrich	Juniata	So.	Homer, N.Y.	Abby Corrgian	Scranton	Fr.	Carbondale, Pa.
Greg Jaindl	Moravian	So.	Macungie, Pa.	Erin Reese	Susquehanna	So.	Lock Haven, Pa.
Men's Second Team				Women's Second Team
Tom Fitzgerald	Elizabethtown	Sr.	Glenmoore, Pa.	Kiera Lyons	Catholic	Sr.	Harwood, Md.
Vinnie Caroselli	Juniata	So.	Upland, Pa.	Alexis Groce	Elizabethtown	Gr.	Harrington, Del.
Alexander Jones	Juniata	So.	Burlington, N.J.	Azia Kalil	Juniata	So.	Methuen, Mass.
Kevin Schofield	Juniata	Sr.	Madison, Conn.	Grace Gilbert	Moravian	Fr.	Palmyra, Pa.
Justin Beasley-Turner	Moravian	So.	Pottstown, Pa.	Katie Mayer	Moravian	So.	Mount Arlington, N.J.
Gavin Kemery	Moravian	So.	Slatington, Pa.	Hannah Stauffer	Susquehanna	Sr.	Middleburg, Pa.
Eric Barlett	Scranton	So.	Sayville, N.Y.	Kailyn Reilly	Susquehanna	Sr.	Scotch Plains, N.J.