University of Albany's Leuchanka Leads Men's Cross Country to Third-Place Finish at A-East Championships - UAlbany Sports 2010

Boston, Mass. - Paced by sophomores Alex Leuchanka and Paul Lagno, the UAlbany men's cross country team placed third among nine schools at the America East Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Franklin Park.

Boston University won its 11th title overall and first since 2000 by edging out second-place Binghamton by nine points and third-place UAlbany by 15 points. Riley Masters of Maine won the individual title in 24:04.47, which was almost 18 seconds faster than runner-up finisher Eric Ashe of Boston U. in the field of 84 competitors.

Leuchanka's third-place time of 24:32.16 was a school record on an 8,000-meter course. He was directly followed by classmate Lagno, who finished the race in a personal-best time of 24:37.03. Both runners earned all-conference honors for placing in the top 10. Junior Chris Burke (14th, 25:06.30), sophomore R.J. Sniffen (18th, 25:13.45) and senior Greg Kiley (21st, 25:19.96) completed the team's top five.

"Our men were not satisfied with being third because they thought they could win," explained head coach Craig McVey. "There were a few of them who did not execute the race the way they normally do. They still posted their best finish since 2003, and they will continue working hard to get better."

The Great Dane harriers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 13 to compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional at Hammonasset State Park in Madison, Conn.
Paw Prints: UAlbany posted its second-highest finish ever and lowest point total at the America East championship meet ... The squad placed second in 2003 ... Sophomores Alex Leuchanka and Paul Lagno became the first two Great Danes to earn all-conference laurels since Ricardo Estremera, who is currently a volunteer assistant coach, achieved the honor in 2006.

America East Conference Championship Team Standings

1. Boston U. 45; 2. Binghamton 54; 3. UAlbany 60; 4. Maine 118; 5. UMBC 161; 6. Stony Brook 170; 7. Vermont 186; 8. Hartford 192; 9. New Hampshire 229.

Individual Champion: Riley Masters, Maine, 24:04.47.

UAlbany Finishers: 3. Alex Leuchanka 24:32.16; 4. Paul Lagno 24:37.03; 14. Chris Burke 25:06.30; 18. R.J. Sniffen 25:13.45; 21. Greg Kiley 25:19.96; 24. Ethan Clary 25:22.87; 33. Sean Halpin 25:45.48; 36. Aaron Lozier 25:48.12; 60. Jimmy Carroll 26:44.33; 76. Alex Wilke 27:16.86.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information