Oct. 28, 2006

For up-to-date information including results and rosters, click on the link below or go to the Championships tab located on the homepage above the Features block and click on Cross Country.

Patriot League Cross Country Championship Page

American's men's team captured its fifth-consecutive Patriot League Championship. The Eagles' are the first Patriot League team to win five-straight titles. The Eagles finished with 25 points as they had five student-athletes finish in the top 10 including the individual champion, Brendan Fennell.

Bucknell women defended their title also as the Bison won their second-straight Patriot League Championship. Four student-athletes finished in the top 10 including the individual champion, Leanna Nastase, to help Bucknell win with 28 points.

American's Brendan Fennell and Bucknell's Leanna Nastase were selected as the Patriot League Outstanding Performers of the Meet. Fennell won the men's event, beating his closest competitor by nearly nine seconds and earning the Eagles their fourth-consecutive individual title. For the women, Bucknell's Leanna Nastase crossed the finish line first 19 seconds ahead of her teammate and closest competitor.

American and Bucknell both garnered another award before the day was out. The Eagles' head coach, Matt Centrowitz, was awarded Patriot League Men's Coach of the Year for the fifth-straight season. For the second-consecutive year, Bucknell's head coach, Kevin Donner, was selected as the Patriot League Women's Coach of the Year.

Lehigh's Kaitlin Grimm and Navy's Chris Horel were named Patriot League Outstanding Rookies of the Year. Grimm ran the 8K in 25:07.2, while Horel ran a 26:54.1, finishing in the top 20. Both student-athletes were the first freshmen to cross the finish line.

Nastase led the Patriot League First-Team All-League team and was joined by fellow Bison Erin Crammer-Hart and Jennifer Stevens. Navy's Justine Whipple and Emily Castro along with Lehigh's Jennifer Schappert and Army's Meghan Curran finished out the women's First-Team. For the women's Patriot League Second-Team All-League team, Bucknell's Nicole Falcaro, Gillian Nordquist and Christine Totten topped the list along with Colgate's Kristen Kiraly, Lehigh's Sarah Seiler, American's Cathleen Ford and Army's Roxanne Wegman.

American's Fennell, Dan Beardslee, Yohannes Awit and Conor Lanz earned the majority of the spots in the Patriot League First-Team All-League team. They are joined with Colgate's Michael Hanlon, Bucknell's Matt Forys and Navy's John Kress. The men's Patriot League Second-Team All-League honorees included Army's Doug Pelletier and Dan O'Loughlin, Navy's John Olsen and Michael Niemi, Bucknell's Wallace Campbell, American's Carlos Jamieson and Lafayette's Ed Dutch.

The next step for Patriot League teams is NCAA Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 11. American, Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy would travel to the Bucknell-hosted NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in Lock Haven, Pa. Army, Colgate and Holy Cross would compete at the Northeast Regional held in Bronx, N.Y.

Patriot League Cross Country Championship

Men's Results

Team Pts.

1. American 25

2. Navy 69

3. Bucknell 80

4. Army 99

5. Lehigh 119

6. Colgate 169

7. Lafayette 203

8. Holy Cross 205

Women's Results

Team Pts.

1. Bucknell 28

2. Navy 79

3. Colgate 82

4. Lehigh 92

5. Army 119

6. American 148

7. Lafayette 184

8. Holy Cross 224

Patriot League First-Team All-League

Men Yohannes Awit, American; Dan Beardslee, American; Brendan Fennell, American; Matt Forys, Bucknell; Michael Hanlon, Colgate; John Kress, Navy; Conor Lanz, American

Women Emily Castro, Navy; Erin Crammer-Hart, Bucknell; Meghan Curran, Army; Leanna Nastase, Bucknell; Jennifer Schappert, Lehigh; Jennifer Stevens, Bucknell; Justine Whipple, Navy

Patriot League Second-Team All-League

Men Wallace Campbell, Bucknell; Ed Dutch, Lafayette; Carlos Jamieson, American; Michael Niemi, Navy; Dan O'Loughlin, Army; John Olsen, Navy; Doug Pelletier, Army

Women Nicole Falcaro, Bucknell; Cathleen Ford, American; Kristen Kiraly, Colgate; Gillian Nordquist, Bucknell; Sarah Seiler, Lehigh; Christine Totten, Bucknell; Roxanne Wegman, Army