Paul Lagno Leads Men's Cross Country to First University of Albany Invitational Title in Seven Years - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore Paul Lagno crossed the finish line first as the UAlbany men's cross country squad won the team championship at the 44th Annual UAlbany Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 16 on a University Campus Course. The Great Danes had their top-five runners all place among the top nine.

UAlbany, ranked 10th in the latest USTFCCCA Division I Northeast Region poll, took the crown easily among the 25 scoring teams by finishing 66 points ahead of Brandeis. Lagno became the first Great Dane to claim the individual title since Jamie Rodriguez in 2001 by navigating the 8,000-meter course in 24:51.7.

"It felt really good [to win the individual title], but it felt better knowing that we won as a team," said Lagno after winning his first invitational. "We had five guys in the top 10, which was a lot better than last year. This sets us up well for the conference meet in two weeks. We will definitely be ready to go."

Lagno was directly followed by sophomore Alex Leuchanka, who registered a second-place time of 25:02.8. Sophomore Ethan Clary (6th, 25:23.4), junior Chris Burke (7th, 25:29.4) and sophomore R.J. Sniffen (9th, 25:35.6) rounded out the top five in the field of 183 competitors.

"The team is on a roll," said head coach Craig McVey on his squad winning the team crown for the first time since 2003. "They are believing in themselves and racing with each other and off of each other. This is our best group ever collectively, and the exciting thing is that the bulk of them are going to be together for two more years."

The Great Dane harriers begin their championship portion of the schedule when they travel to compete at the America East Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30. Boston University will host the event at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.
Paw Prints: UAlbany won the team title and produced the individual champion at its home meet for the first time since 2001 ... The Great Danes had four sophomores, including three from Capital Region High Schools, place in their top five for the third straight meet ... In addition to the championship race, several other Great Danes competed in the Men's Purple 8k Race ... UAlbany's Aaron Lozier won the individual title in 26:24.





Women's Cross Country Places Third and Has Record-Breaking Day at UAlbany Invitational

Sophomore Emily Finnegan placed eighth overall to lead the UAlbany women's cross country squad to a third-place finish among 22 scoring teams at the 44th Annual UAlbany Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 16 on a University Campus Course. The Great Danes set a school record for the second straight meet by having their top-five finishers register an average time of 18:28.6 on the 5,000-meter course.

New Hampshire, which was tabbed ninth in the latest USTFCCCA Division I Northeast Region poll, ran away with the team title over Middlebury, the nation's top-ranked Division III squad. Brandeis' Gracye Selig claimed the individual title by crossing the line in 17:34.2. Paced by Finnegan, who registered a personal-best time of 18:04.3, UAlbany finished third and was just three points behind Middlebury.

"I was very pleased with the way I ran today," said Finnegan after coming seconds shy of becoming only the second woman in program history after Alyssa Lotmore to break the 18-minute mark on a 5,000-meter course. "I did better than I thought and still want to break 18 minutes. I thought it was awesome that our team broke a school record. Our top five is definitely better than last year, and I think we have the potential to finish in the top three or top five [at the conference meet in two weeks]."

Finnegan was followed by freshman Brianne Bellon, who finished 10th among the 177 competitors in 18:18.1. Freshman Kathryn Fanning (18th, 18:32.9), senior Jenn Pierson (21st, 18:35.2) and sophomore Emily Fung (31st, 18:52.4) completed the team's top five.

"Our women set a school record at Louisville, and here we are two weeks later on a windy day where the footing is not good in places and breaking it again," explained head coach Craig McVey, after the squad's top five women averaged the fastest time in school history for the second straight meet. "They are doing a great job. They believe in themselves, they believe in the work that they are doing and it shows. If we race well and we keep getting better, we have a shot to be in the top three [at the conference meet]."

The Great Dane harriers begin their championship portion of the schedule when they travel to compete at the America East Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30. Boston University will host the event at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information