On Saturday, the Rensselaer cross country team experienced numerous individual improvements throughout the men’s and women’s teams with an amazing number of season-best performances.
The team hosted the Saratoga Invitational on their home course in Saratoga Springs State Park, one of the most favored courses in the Northeast.
Both the men and the women scored well against competitors from Ithaca, St. Lawrence, Roberts Wesleyan, Alfred, Vassar, RIT, William Smith, Hobart, Hartwick, Union, and Bard.
The women’s team had an incredible race, with all 12 of the athletes achieving a season’s best time on the fast course. Their combined score totaled 134 points, earning fourth place overall. One of the first women to finish in the race was the team lead runner Rebecca Rosenberg-Beran, finishing in 18:28 for sixth place. Next, finishing within a second of each other were Lauren Carter and Claire Lears, running a 19:13 and 19:14 for 21st and 22nd place respectively. Also finishing under 20 minutes was Cara O’Toole, placing 31st with a time of 19:48. Then, with a time of 20:58 came Emily Meacham in 67th place, scoring the remaining points for Rensselaer.
The men’s team, scoring fourth place with 116 points, ran an exciting race as well. The team’s leading runner, Dave Hurtado, placed 15th individually in the time of 27:08. Next to finish was John Bonnett, placing 23rd in 27:26, leading a pack of scoring runners all finishing within six seconds of each other. Capturing 25th through 27th place respectively, were Josh Schuster in 27:28, Bob Baniak in 27:31, and Matt Haringa in 27:32. Working in a pack continues to be one of the strengths of the Rensselaer men’s team. A special mention goes to Matt Welch, who set a new personal record in the 8K.
The teams’ hard work will continue to be uncovered as they enter their championship season in the upcoming races. In two weeks, there will be another chance to cheer on the Red Hawks on their home course at Saratoga Spa State Park when they host the NYSCTC championship meet on Saturday, November 8 with the women’s race at 11 am and the men’s race at noon.
