Men's team finishes 3rd, women 4th at USCAA XC Nationals - 2010-11-08

Alexa Cosgro (FR: Plattsburgh, NY/Seton Catholic HS) paced the Paul Smith’s College women’s team to a 4th place finish at the United States College Athletic Association (USCAA) nationals at the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) course in Concord, N.H. Alexa finished fifteenth overall in 26:29 over the 6 km course to pace the Bobcats.

Second for the Paul Smith’s College women’s team was Liz Havelin (FR: Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) in 26:43 for 19th place overall. Linnea Shumway (FR: Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) was a nice surprise, placing third for Paul Smith’s in 27:31, and 30th place. Team captain Ashley Comeau (SR: Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake Regional H.S.) finished in 27:54. Jessica Champagne (SO: Sheldon, VT/BFA Fairfax HS) was the fifth Bobcat to cross the line in 31:57, followed by Annie Jardin (SO: Mexico, NY/Mexico HS) in 32:28, and Caitlyn Sparkes (FR: Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville HS) in 38:56.

This was the first time Paul Smith’s College has fielded a complete women’s team at nationals. The Paul Smith’s College women placed fourth overall with 116 points. Indiana’s St. Mary of-the-Woods College won the meet in dominating fashion with 22 points, followed by the only other college from New York State, SUNY –ESF with 67 points, and in third, Penn State Worthington – Scranton campus with 68 points. There were a total of ten complete women’s teams in this year’s USCAA Nationals, with a total of 86 competitors running. The women’s results: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/nh/Nov5_USCAAN_set2.shtml

All of the women have made major strides this season, but Linnea Shumway really showed some grit on Friday, as she shaved another eight seconds/kilometer off her season’s best pace. Linnea was determined to avoid the directional error she made in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) championship meet on the same course two weeks ago, and she really finished strong at nationals. Head Coach Jim Tucker said after the race, “It was great to have the women’s team stick together, and pull out a fourth place finish. Given the lack of numbers throughout the season, it was awesome to have seven in the race, and to have Alexa finish near the top of the pack was exceptional.”

Paul Smith's men finish third: The Paul Smith’s College men’s team finished in third overall with 93 points, behind Spalding College of Louisville, Ky., and Diné College of Arizona. Fourteen complete teams competed. Men’s results can be found at: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/nh/Nov5_USCAAN_set1.shtml.

Paul Smith’s College fielded the largest team at USCAA nationals with 16 men representing the college, paced by 10th place finisher Kyle Dash (SO: Java Village, NY/Pioneer HS) who finished the 4.7 mile course in 26:07 in tenth place overall. Ben Howard (JR: Sidney Center, NY/Sidney HS) paced a trio of Paul Smith’s College runners in 18th – 20th positions, as he crossed the line in 27:14; followed by Ben Palladino (FR: Tully, NY/Tully HS) in 27:17; and Matt Piper (JR: Morrisville, VT/People’s Academy) in 27:27. The fifth PSC runner to finish was Dana Hazen (JR: White River Junction, VT/Hartford HS) in 27:58. Both Josh Buchanen (FR: Central Square, NY/Central Square HS) and Jacob Dillon (SR: Jordan, NY/Jordan Elbridge HS) were displacing runners from most of the participating colleges as they finished sixth and seventh for the Bobcats in 28:10 and 28:33 respectively.

A total of 16 Paul Smith’s College men took part in the USCAA Nationals, with 122 finishers overall. The third place finish for Paul Smith's was tied with the ‘04 team that also finished third at nationals, when the team scored 96 points and there were only six complete teams taking part. This year’s field included teams from 20 small colleges and universities representing 14 states.

Paul Smith's XC website: http://www.paulsmiths.edu/athletics/crosscountry/home.php