UAlbany Cross Country Teams Place Second at Vanderbilt's Commodore Classic

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Nashville, Tenn. – The University at Albany men’s and women's cross country teams finished second at the Commodore Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University on Saturday morning. Vanderbilt, ranked fourth in the South Region on the women’s side and 12th in the men’s poll, swept the team titles. UAlbany’s Brian Yurkewecz finished second and just .23 seconds behind men’s individual champion Ryan Chastain of Lipscomb to lead the way for the men’s team, while Laura Cummings was third overall and just 11 seconds behind Vanderbilt’s Rita Jorgensen who went on to win the women’s individual title.

The UAlbany men finished with 50 points, which was just eight points behind regionally-ranked Vanderbilt. The Great Danes had five runners place in the top 18. Yurkewecz’s second-place time in the field of 77 runners was 26:23.88. R.J. Sniffen navigated the 8,000-meter course in 26:45 and placed sixth overall. Chris Manico (12th, 27:02), Jack Kelley (15th, 27:15) and David Rothman (18th, 27:20) rounded out the top five finishers for the Great Danes.

The women’s team finished with 85 points, which was 54 points behind regionally-ranked Vanderbilt and 14 points ahead of Belmont, tabbed 11th in the South Region. Cummings’ third-place time in the field of 77 runners was 18:08. Ada Lauterbach placed 13th overall and second on the squad for completing the 5,000-meter course in 19:10. Emily Fung (18th, 19:25), Ally Panos (27th, 19:44) and Laine Sefick (31st, 19:53) rounded out the top five finishers for the women’s team.

The Great Danes will take next weekend off before heading to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Md. for the Towson Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3. Oregon Ridge Park will also be the site of the America East Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1.



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MEN’S RESULTS (8k) WOMEN’S RESULTS (5k)

1. Vanderbilt 42 points 1. Vanderbilt 31 points

2. UAlbany 50 points 2. UAlbany 85 points

3. Lipscomb 79 points 3. Emory 93 points

4. Emory 100 points 4. Belmont 99 points

5. Rhodes 105 points 5. Lipscomb 103 points

6. Tennessee Tech 161 points 6. Tennessee Tech 122 points

6. Vanderbilt Alumni 161 points 7. Rhodes 157 points

8. Lambuth 250 points 8. Tennessee State 255 points



Men’s Individual Champion: Ryan Chastain, Lipscomb (26:23.65)

Women’s Individual Champion: Rita Jorgensen, Vanderbilt (17:57)

UAlbany Men’s Top Finishers: 2. Brian Yurkewecz (26:23.88), 6. R.J. Sniffen (26:45), 12. Chris Manico (27:02), 15. Jack Kelley (27:15), 18. David Rothman (27:20).

UAlbany Women’s Top Finishers: 3. Laura Cummings (18:08), 13. Ada Lauterbach (19:10), 18. Emily Fung (19:25), 27. Ally Panos (19:44), 31. Laine Sefick (19:53).