Cross Country Heats Up the Trails in PSUAC Season Opener
By Mar Tsakonas
Amidst tornado warnings the Scranton Lady Lions breezed past the competition to claim the top spot in the PSUAC Cross Country conference opener. With the PSUAC and EPCC teams lining the start Scranton blazed ahead on their home trails behind the gym, around the fields, through the woods, and around the top parking lots of campus. 9 teams from the PSUAC competed but only 3 were eligible for team scores and the top spot. The women from Scranton were ready to continue their title defense and their 5 year-long winning streak in the conference and they did just that with 3 of their returning runners placing in the top 10. Junior Breanna Toolan was the top finisher for Scranton taking the number 5 spot overall and claiming an individual medal. She was followed by Sophomore Brooke Reynolds who took home the 6th spot and rounding out the top 3 was Senior Amber Martin with a finish in the 10th spot. The team results from the women's 6k were in 3rd was PSU Schuylkill with 62 points. In 2nd place was PSU Brandywine finishing with 36 points and squeaking by with the win was the host team from Scranton with 33 points continuing their reign on top of the PSUAC.
As the women's race finished up the men took to the course for their 8k race. With the bad weather creeping up the 9 men's teams from the PSUAC raced hard and finished just in time to beat out a nasty thunderstorm. Returning runner Chaz Bryant lead the way for the men posting a 12th place finish. Chaz was followed up by newcomers Jamie Dodgson and Daniel Caro-Esposito to round out the top 3 with times of 39:43 and 41:58 respectively. Racers enjoyed refreshments as awards were given out and some took solace outside the gym doors as the cool rain covered the campus. Congratulations to all the teams that took part in the race. The next PSUAC race will be held on October 6th at PSU Wilkes Barre.