September 23, 2008

Center Valley, Pa.- Navy runner Amy Watson was named ECAC Co-Runner of the Week for the week of September 9-16. Watson is the first Patriot League runner to earn ECAC distinction this season. Archrivals Army and Navy are the only two Patriot League teams competing this weekend, facing off at the Roy Griak Invitational in Falcon Heights, Minn. on Saturday. Student-athletes from Navy, Bucknell and Holy Cross all won Patriot League Runner of the Week awards.

Patriot League Cross Country Release 9.23.08

Patriot League Male Runner of the Week

Andrew Hanko, Navy So., Montville, N.J.

Hanko led the Mids across the finish line with a time of 25:03.6 in the men's 8k at this weekend's Iona Meet of Champions. His time ranks as the 19th fastest Navy time ever recorded at Van Cortlandt Park. Hanko finished just 39.5 seconds behind the meet's individual winner. The meet featured runners from No. 8 Michigan, No. 4 Iona, Penn State, Boston College and Penn, among others.

Patriot League Female Runner of the Week

Stephanie Fulmer, Bucknell Fr., Pottstown, Pa.

Fulmer was the top finisher for the Bison with a time of 18:19 in the women's 5k at the Buffalo Stampede. Fulmer led Bucknell to a second-place team finish, while she finished fifth in a field of 104 runners. The Buffalo Stampede featured runners from Akron, host Buffalo, Binghamton, Niagara and Robert Morris, among others.

Patriot League Male Rookie of the Week

Dave Brown, Bucknell Fr., West Borough, Mass.

Brown helped lead Bucknell to a second-place team finish at the Buffalo Stampede, scoring for the Bison with a time of 26:43.6 in the men's 8k. Brown's time was good for 16th place of 110 runners at the meet.

Patriot League Female Rookie of the Week

Paige Sutherland, Holy Cross Fr., Groveland, Mass.

Sutherland was the top finisher for the Crusaders at the National Catholic Championship, finishing 16th in the women's 5k with a time of 18:38. Sutherland helped lead Holy Cross to a sixth-place finish of 35 teams at the meet, and has now been Holy Cross' top finisher in both races she has run this season.

Patriot League Notebook

Navy's Watson Named ECAC Co-Runner of the Week

Navy runner Amy Watson was named ECAC Co-Runner of the Week for the week of September 9-16. Watson is the first Patriot League runner to earn the ECAC distinction this season.

The Hampstead, Md. native was the individual champion at the Navy Invitational, finishing first of 158 runners with a time of 22:26.0 in the women's 6k. Watson won the individual title by 13 seconds over Richmond's Nicol Traynor, with whom she shares Co-Runner of the Week honors. Watson led the Mids to a second-place finish at the meet.

The Navy Invitational was one of the largest women's fields in USNA Cross Country Course history. Watson's time was the ninth-fastest in the course's history, and the third-fastest time turned in by a Navy runner.

Watson also received Patriot League Female Runner of the Week honors last week, making her the first Patriot League cross country student-athlete to win the award for three consecutive weeks.

Army, Navy To Compete in Roy Griak Meet This Weekend

Archrivals Army and Navy are the only two Patriot League teams competing this weekend, facing off at the Roy Griak Invitational in Falcon Heights, Minn. This will be Navy's fifth-consecutive week of competition, as Navy last ran in the Iona Meet of Champions. Army last competed earlier this month when it hosted a dual meet with Ivy League foe Cornell.

2008 PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2008 Patriot League Cross Country Championships will take place on Nov. 1 at Lehigh University. The top-14 finishers in both the men and women's race will be awarded All-Patriot League status, with the top-seven being named to the First-Team and the next seven earning Second-Team recognition.

Team Notebooks

American had no scheduled events this week. The Eagles will next compete October 3 at the Paul Short Invitational and October 4 at the George Mason Invitational.

Army had no scheduled events this week. The Black Knights compete again on Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational.

Bucknell finished in second-place in both the men's and women's meets at the Buffalo Stampede. The Bison men finished sixth and the women fourth at the Dickinson Long-Short Course Invitational. Bucknell will next compete at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.

Colgate competed at the UMass Invitational this weekend, where there was no team scoring. The Raiders will next compete October 3 at the Paul Short Invitational.

Holy Cross competed in both the National Catholic Championship and the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational this weekend. The Crusaders will next compete at the Murray Keating Invitational on October 4.

Lafayette had no scheduled events the week. The Leopards will next compete at the Paul Short Invitational on October 3.

Lehigh men finished fifth of 24 and the women 9th of 21 at the Iona Meet of Champions this weekend. Lehigh will host and compete in the Paul Short Invitational on October 3.

Navy men finished second at the Iona Meet of Champions. The Mids will compete in their fifth consecutive meet at the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday.