UAlbany Hosts 43rd Annual Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 17

Albany, N.Y. - The University at Albany will host the 43rd Annual Cross Country Invitational on a campus course this Saturday, Oct. 17. The Bobbi Palma Women's Championship Race, a 5,000-meter event, begins at 10:05 a.m. The R.K. Munsey Men's Championship Race, an 8,000-meter circuit, starts at 10:40 a.m.

This year's field includes at least 27 men's teams and 26 women's teams encompassing all three NCAA divisions and the community college level. Harvard highlights the largest contingent of Division I schools to enter into the field which is only rivaled by the one at Penn State University this weekend in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The Crimson men and women are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Northeast Region poll. Both squads will showcase their depth on the University Campus Course, as they are also sending many of their top performers to Pre-Nationals at Terre Haute, Ind. Massachusetts, Binghamton and Marist are three top-15 programs in the region that will challenge for the men's team title. Sacred Heart, Canisius and Marist, which consistently rank among the top programs in their respective conferences, will aim to take the women's crown.

A total of five nationally-ranked programs and eight regionally-ranked squads that compete at the NCAA Division II and III levels are expected to be in attendance. The New York Institute of Technology highlights the list of Division II schools competing. The men's team is ranked seventh in the latest Division II East Region poll, and the women have been tabbed as high as ninth.

The Middlebury women were ranked 10th in the Division III national poll released on Oct. 7, while the Brandeis women were 17th and the Judge men were 27th. Plattsburgh State's men and women are also top-25 programs. Other regionally-ranked schools competing at the meet include the Middlebury men and the Rochester Institute of Technology men's and women's squads.

The UAlbany men's team, which is coming off a fourth-place finish behind three nationally and regionally-ranked schools at George Mason, is extremely young with only one upperclassman represented in the squad's top 10. Freshman Alex Leuchanka, the 2008 New York Cross Country Federation champion on the scholastic level, has finished first for the Great Danes in all three meets this season. He won his first collegiate race at the Monmouth XC Kick-Off, leading UAlbany to the team title for the second straight year. Rounding out the top seven for the UAlbany men are redshirt freshman Paul Lagno, freshman Sean Halpin, freshman Craig Weiss, junior David Rothman, sophomore Jack Kelley and redshirt freshman Ethan Clary.

The UAlbany women's team has also relied on its underclassmen throughout the fall, and is expected to field the youngest squad at the America East Conference Cross Country Championships in two weeks. Sophomore Ada Lauterbach, who was honored as the America East performer of the week earlier this month, has paced the group so far. A 2009 ECAC outdoor qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, she became the fifth straight Great Dane to win the individual title at the Monmouth XC Kick-Off, and has finished first on the team at every meet this fall. Ally Panos and Jenn Pierson, a pair of juniors, and four freshmen, led by Miranda McConnell, complete the team's top seven for the invitational. McConnell was second on the squad behind Lauterbach at the last two meets, while classmates Mikala Anson, Melissa Del Rosario and Emily Finnegan have also fared well heading into the weekend's final opportunity for the squads to gear up for the upcoming championship portion of the schedule.

43rd UAlbany Cross Country Invitational
Schedule of Events (University Campus Course)
9:00 a.m. - Women's Gold 5K Race
9:35 a.m. - Men's Purple 8K Race
10:05 a.m. - Bobbi Palma Women's Championship 5K Race
10:40 a.m. - R.K. Munsey Men's Championship 8K Race

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Ada Lauterbach Named America East Women's Cross Country Performer of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Cambridge, Mass. - UAlbany's Ada Lauterbach has been named the America East Conference Women's Cross Country Performer of the Week, as announced on Tuesday, Oct. 6 by the conference office. The sophomore is being honored by the league for the first time in her career.

Lauterbach placed 21st among 86 runners in 22:44 to lead the Great Danes to a fifth-place finish among nine schools at the George Mason Invitational on Oct. 3. The sophomore, who was running a 6,000-meter course for the second time in her career, improved her mark by almost two minutes (1:55) since competing at Princeton last season. As a track and field competitor, Lauterbach was a 2009 ECAC championship qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The competitive field at George Mason featured two national top-20 schools and another institution which was regionally ranked by the USTFCCCA. Virginia, tabbed 19th in the country, edged out Georgetown, ranked 11th nationally, by one point to win the meet. Columbia, an Ivy League power which was fifth in the Northeast Region, placed third.

The Great Dane harriers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17 to host the 43rd Annual UAlbany Invitational. The Bobbi Palma Women's Championship Race, held on a 5,000-meter campus course, begins at 10:05 a.m. The R.K. Munsey Men's Championship Race, an 8,000-meter circuit, commences at 10:40 a.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Leuchanka and Lauterbach Lead Cross Country Teams to Top-Five Finishes at George Mason Invite - UAlbany Sports 2009

Centreville, Va. - Freshman Alex Leuchanka and sophomore Ada Lauterbach led the UAlbany cross country teams to top-five finishes at the George Mason Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Bull Run Park. The men's team placed fourth among 10 teams, while the women were fifth among nine schools. Virginia's nationally-ranked programs swept the team titles for the second straight year.

The Cavalier men, tabbed 14th in the country by the USTFCCCA earlier in the week, claimed the team championship by 13 points over Columbia, an Ivy League power which was among the schools receiving votes in the organization's national poll. George Mason, which has been ranked as high as 14th in the Southeast Region this fall, placed third in the competitive field. Emil Heineking of Virginia won the individual title for navigating the 8,000-meter course in 24:37.

Leuchanka, the 2008 New York State Cross Country Federation champion on the scholastic level, finished 13th among 109 runners in a time of 25:26 to lead UAlbany. The mark was a 17-second improvement from his time at the America East Conference Pre-Championship three weeks ago. Redshirt freshman Paul Lagno placed second on the squad and 27th in the field in 26:10. He was followed by freshman Craig Weiss, who was 37th in 26:42. Rounding out the top five for the Great Danes, who only finished behind schools which were regionally or nationally ranked at some point this season, were junior David Rothman (40th, 26:57) and sophomore Jack Kelley (42nd, 26:59).

The Virginia women, ranked 19th nationally, completed the sweep of the team titles by edging No. 11 Georgetown by one point. Columbia, which was tabbed fifth in the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA, placed third. Virginia's Catherine White, who completed the course in 20:41, won the individual title.

Lauterbach, who was running a 6,000-meter circuit for only the second time of her career, finished 21st in 22:44 to pace the UAlbany women. Freshman Miranda McConnell finished second on the squad for the second straight meet in 23:11, which was good for 29th overall in the field of 86 competitors. Junior Jenn Pierson (35th, 23:31), freshman Mikala Anson (39th, 23:40) and classmate Melissa Del Rosario (43rd, 23:46) completed the team's top five.

The Great Dane harriers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 17 to host the 43rd UAlbany Invitational on the University Campus Course. The Bobbi Palma Women's Championship Race, a 5,000-meter event, begins at 10:05 a.m. The R.K. Munsey Men's Championship Race, an 8,000-meter circuit, starts at 10:40 a.m.


George Mason Invitational Men's Team Standings (8k)
1. Virginia 21 points; 2. Columbia 34 points; 3. George Mason 85 points; 4. UAlbany 119 points; 5. UNC-Wilmington 151 points; 6. American 190 points; 7. Howard 216 points; 8. Washington & Lee 233 points; 9. Christopher Newport 247 points; 10. Virginia Commonwealth 283 points.

Individual Champion: Emil Heineking, Virginia, 24:37.
UAlbany Finishers: 13. Alex Leuchanka 25:26; 27. Paul Lagno 26:10; 37. Craig Weiss 26:42; 40. David Rothman 26:57; 42. Jack Kelley 26:59; 46. Chris Manico 27:13; 50. Sean Halpin 27:18.

George Mason Invitational Women's Team Standings (6k)
1. Virginia 30 points; 2. Georgetown 31 points; 3. Columbia 72 points; 4. UNC-Wilmington 139 points; 5. UAlbany 145 points; 6. George Mason 178 points; T-7. Christopher Newport 206 points; T-7. American 206 points; 9. Howard 258 points.
Individual Champion: Catherine White, Virginia, 20:41.
UAlbany Finishers: 21. Ada Lauterbach 22:44; 29. Miranda McConnell 23:11; 35. Jenn Pierson 23:31; 39. Mikala Anson 23:40; 43. Melissa Del Rosario 23:46; 52. Ally Panos 24:38; 61. Emily Finnegan 25:28.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Cross Country Squads Sweep Individual and Team Titles at Monmouth Meet - UAlbany Sports 2009

Lincroft, N.J. - Freshman Alex Leuchanka won his first collegiate race and sophomore Ada Lauterbach also finished first overall in leading the UAlbany men's and women's cross country teams to a clean sweep of the team titles at the Monmouth XC Kick-Off held at Thompson Park on Saturday, Sept. 5. It marked the second straight season that the Great Dane harriers, which finished first among five schools in the Division I bracket, swept the team championships.

Leuchanka, the 2008 New York State Federation individual champion and Section II record holder in the 3,200-meter run, crossed the finish line first among 93 runners in 19:01.66, which was 19 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Redshirt freshman Paul Lagno was second on the squad and sixth overall, finishing the 6,000-meter course in 19:31.66, while Ethan Clary, another redshirt freshman, placed 10th in 19:44.50. Freshman Sean Halpin (12th, 19:55.76) and junior David Rothman (13th, 19:57.82) rounded out the top-five finishers for the Great Dane men.

Lauterbach's first-place performance among 81 competitors marked the fifth straight season that a Great Dane captured the women's individual title at the season-opening meet. Alyssa Lotmore won the invitational in 2005, Jenna Ortman was first across the line in 2006 and Laura Cummings was victorious in 2007 and 2008.

Lauterbach, who was an ECAC qualifier in the steeplechase last spring in outdoor track and field, navigated the 4,000-meter course in 15:08.85. Freshman Brianna Service, who was making her collegiate debut, finished second in the field in 15:15.15. Junior Ally Panos was fifth overall in 15:34.73, while freshmen Miranda McConnell (6th, 15:34.93) and Melissa Del Rosario (10th, 15:46.75) completed the top five for the squad.

The UAlbany cross country teams will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 13 when they travel to Williston, Vt. for the America East Pre-Championship Meet. The Catamount Family Center, the site of the invitational, will be the same course used for the America East Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31.


Monmouth XC Kick-Off Division I Team Standings (Men)
1. UAlbany 21 points; 2. Wagner 67 points; 3. Monmouth 68 points; 4. Long Island 105 points; 5. Seton Hall 119 points.

Individual Champion: Alex Leuchanka, UAlbany, 19:01.66.

UAlbany Finishers: 1. Alex Leuchanka 19:01.66; 6. Paul Lagno 19:31.66; 10. Ethan Clary 19:44.50; 12. Sean Halpin 19:55.76; 13. David Rothman 19:57.82; 19. Ryan Florkiewicz 20:13.82; 20. Jack Kelley 20:14.03; 28. Craig Weiss 20:25.91; 33. Chris Manico 20:36.60; 45. Jimmy Carroll 21:05.12; 50. Ian Ellis 21:23.28.

Monmouth XC Kick-Off Division I Team Standings (Women)
1. UAlbany 20 points; 2. Monmouth 46 points; 3. Seton Hall 89 points; 4. Long Island 114 points; 5. Wagner 119 points.

Individual Champion: Ada Lauterbach, UAlbany, 15:08.85.

UAlbany Finishers: 1. Ada Lauterbach 15:08.85; 2. Brianna Service 15:15.15; 5. Ally Panos 15:34.73; 6. Miranda McConnell 15:34.93; 10. Melissa Del Rosario 15:46.75; 13. Mikala Anson 15:56.96; 14. Emily Finnegan 16:03.00; 16. Kristin Grab 16:06.50; 20. Jenn Pierson 16:16.01; 34. Roxanne Wegman 16:50.73; 49. Rachel Wysocki 17:24.43.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information