Landmark Announces Cross Country Awards
TOWSON, Md. – Sam Gerstenbacher of Elizabethtown College and Natalie Novotni of Moravian College were named the Landmark Performers of the Year following the 2018 Cross Country Championships hosted by Elizabethtown College on Saturday.
The annual honor is given to the individuals who finished first at the conference championship meet.
Gerstenbacher, who also won the race in 2017 as a sophomore, claimed his second Landmark Championship. He is the fourth Blue Jay to earn the honor, and first repeat honoree since Elizabethtown joined the conference in 2014. Gerstenbacher also earns his third consecutive All-Landmark First Team honor.
Elizabethtown won its fifth Landmark Men's Cross Country title by placing two runners among the top-five finishers. Joining Gerstenbacher on the All-Landmark First Team were senior Tyler Alansky. Alanksy earns All-Landmark honors for the second straight year after being a First Team selection last year. Christopher Myers collects his first All-Landmark honor, rounding out all-conference performers for Elizabethtown.
Moravian College junior Greg Jaindl and Juniata College junior Evan Ulrich finished 2-3, repectively. Jaindl, a First-Team selection a year ago, improved from a third-place finish in 2017, while Ulirch jumped from sixth to third.
Moravian junior Gavin Kemery's fifth-place finish helped the Greyhounds to third-place in the team standings. Kemery picks up All-Landmark honors for the second time. Susquehanna's Ciaran Fisher was the lone River Hawk to earn All-Landmark honors. Fisher placed sixth to earn All-Landmark accolades for the frist time in his career.
Junior Peter D'Amico of Juniata rounded out the top seven finishers and earned All-Landmark honors for the third time in his career.
Moravian's Dominic DeRafelo was the top first-year runner in the mean's race and grabbed Rookie of hte Year honors, as well as a spot on the All-Landmark Second Team. DeRafelo is the second Greyhound to earn the honor, joining Alec Duncan (2011).
Jon Cutright was selected as the Landmark Men's Coach of the Year in his 21st season with the Eagles. It marks the second time in three years he has been recognized with the award.
Moravian's Natalie Novotni is the third Greyhounds to earn Performer of the Year honors from the women's race. Novotni joins Cadee Rockwell (2011) and Meg Brockett (2016).
Elizabethtown captured its fifth straight Landmark title and 12th overall on the strength of four runners in the top-14. The Blue Jays were led by sophomore Olivia Gerstenbacher. Gerstenbacher, finished as the runner-up and earned her first All-Landmark honor with a spot on the First Team thsi year. Senior Colleen Kernan and sophomore Kaitlin Donahue placed third and fifth respectively. Both repeated as First Team honorees.
Juniata junior Azia Kalil, an All-Landmark Second Team selection last season, finished fourth overall this year to move up to the First Team and earn her second conference honor.
Junior Katie Mayer of Moravian helped the Greyhounds to runner-up honors in the team standings. She was the second Greyhound runner across the finish lin, placing sixth.Teammate Natalie Stabilito was the first rookie to cross the finish line in teh women's race to earn Rookie of the Year honors. She placed 12th, which earned her All-Landmark Second Team accolades.
Scranton sophomore Rachel Kerr rounds out the First Team honorees after placing seventh.
Elizabethtown head coach Brian Falk was named the Landmark Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. He earned the award for the fifth time.
| Men's First Team |
Women's First Team |
| Tyler Alansky |
Elizabethtown |
Sr. |
|
Downingtown, Pa. |
Kaitlin Donahue |
Elizabethtown |
So. |
|
Sewell, N.J. |
| Samuel Gerstenbacher |
Elizabethtown |
Jr. |
|
Pittsgrove, N.J. |
Olivia Gerstenbacher |
Elizabethtown |
So. |
|
Pittsgrove, N.J. |
| Peter D'Amico |
Juniata |
Jr. |
|
Hummelstown, Pa. |
Colleen Kernan |
Elizabethtown |
Sr. |
|
Finksburg, Md. |
| Evan Ulrich |
Juniata |
Jr. |
|
Homer, N.Y. |
Azia Kalil |
Juniata |
Jr. |
|
Methuen, Mass. |
| Gavin Kemery |
Moravian |
Jr. |
|
Slatington, Pa. |
Katie Mayer |
Moravian |
Jr. |
|
Mount Arlington, N.J. |
| Greg Jaindl |
Moravian |
Jr. |
|
Macungie, Pa. |
Natalie Novotini |
Moravian |
So. |
|
Aston, Pa. |
| Ciaran Fisher |
Susquehanna |
Sr. |
|
Marion Heights, Pa. |
Rachel Kerr |
Scranton |
So. |
|
Archbald, Pa. |
| Men's Second Team |
Women's Second Team |
| Liam Coverdale |
Elizabethtown |
Jr. |
|
Cherry Hill, N.J. |
Kiera Lyons |
Catholic |
Sr. |
|
Harwood, Md. |
| Christopher Myers |
Elizabethtown |
Jr. |
|
Lancaster, Pa. |
Melissa Fitzgibbon |
Elizabethtown |
Fr. |
|
Ladenberg, Pa. |
| Vinnie Caroselli |
Juniata |
Jr. |
|
Upland, Pa. |
Yanibel Collado |
Juniata |
Sr. |
|
Freeport, N.Y. |
| Alexander Jones |
Juniata |
Jr. |
|
Burlington, N.J. |
Carly Danoski |
Moravian |
Jr. |
|
Clarks Summit, Pa. |
| Dominic DeRafelo |
Moravian |
Fr. |
|
Boyertown, Pa. |
Natalie Stabilito |
Moravian |
Fr. |
|
Gilbertsville, Pa. |
| Eric Bartlett |
Scranton |
Jr. |
|
Sayville, N.Y. |
Marissa Kleman |
Susquehanna |
So. |
|
Locust Gap, Pa. |
| Zachary Gutenkunst |
Scranton |
Jr. |
|
Ambler, Pa. |
Erin Reese |
Susquehanna |
Jr. |
|
Lock Haven, Pa. |