Cross Country Takes Third Place At NYIT Running Of The Bears
Men's Results
Women's Results
BETHPAGE, N.Y. (Sept. 19, 2009)- The C.W. Post Pioneers men's and women's cross country team competed at the NYIT Running of the Bears meet, held at Bethpage State Park Saturday afternoon. The Both teams made an impressive showing, as the women placed third overall out of 13 teams. The men also took home an overall third place finish out of 12 competing institutions. The meet proved to be a remarkable one, as eight Pioneers set new personal records in their events.
Senior Kristen Sweeney (Kennebunk, Maine) was the first Pioneer to complete the 5k race for the women, taking fifth place and setting a new personal record with a time of 19:45.20. Sweeney's new personal record moves her up to seventh place on the Pioneers All-Time 5k list, and was the fastest 5k time run by a C.W. Post women's cross country member in five years.
Sweeney was followed shortly after by C.W. Post freshman Caitlin Smith (Levittown, N.Y.), who crossed the line with a time of 20:28.40, setting a new personal record of her own and taking 13th place out of 87 runners. Senior Erin Lusenskas (East Atlantic Beach, N.Y.) was the third Pioneer to finish in 24th place, and also set a new 5k personal record of 21:08.50. Freshman Katherine Wilkens (Woodbury, N.Y.) and senior Irekpitan Ehikioya (West Hempstead, N.Y.) each ran a college best, finishing in 33rd and 42nd place respectively.
The C.W. Post men's team was lead by graduate student Vince Giambanco (Muttontown, N.Y.) who placed fifth overall and set a new 8k personal record with a time of 26:05.80, the fastest time by a C.W. Post team member in four years. Freshman Raymond Coyle (Woodhaven, N.Y.) also ran a personal best, completing the course in 27 minutes and 11 seconds, taking 14th place. David Johnson (Flushing, N.Y.) placed 21st out of 100 runners setting a new personal record of 27:43.70. Senior Thomas Brouillard (Syosset, N.Y.) matched his 8k personal record, running the course in 28 minutes and four seconds, taking 23rd place. Freshman Matthew O'Keefe (East Rockaway, N.Y.) edged out teammate Christian Altamura (Seaford, N.Y.), as the two placed 27th and 28th, respectively. O'Keefe set a new personal record with a time of 28:25.40, while Altamura ran a personal best of his own, crossing the line at the 28:26 mark.
C.W. Post looks to continue its success on September 26, as the Pioneers compete in the Codfish Bowl, held in Boston, Massachusetts.