KUTZTOWN, PA. (September 18, 2009) -- The Kutztown University cross-country squads will hit the road this weekend, when they travel to Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N. Y. on Saturday to compete in the 15th annual Br. John Doyle Iona College Meet of Champions hosted by Iona College.
Slated for a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start, the women will compete on the 6-kilometer course against some of the nation's elite programs, including Yale University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, The United States Naval Academy, Rider University, Rutgers University and Loyola University. The Golden Bears and rival Edinboro University are the only two teams representing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
In last year's event, the Penn State women finished in first place with a total of 40 points, placing three runners in the top 10. Cornell University finished four runners in the top twenty, finishing in second place overall. Both teams are not entered in the meet this year.
Kutztown last competed in this event in 2007, placing seventh overall. Junior Kristin Cupido (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and senior teammate Maureen Watson (Walnutport, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) (Walnutport/Allentown Central Catholic), finished in top 100. Cupido crossed the finish line in 24 minutes, 8.4 seconds and Watson finished the race in 24:16.4.
Watson along with senior Cheryl Dingman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) (Lansdale/North Penn) and senior Steph Grimm (Fleetwood, PA/Oley Valley) (Fleetwood/Oley Valley) will not participate in this meet.
The Golden Bears have started strong this season. At the Lehigh Valley Championships they finished in third place. Last weekend at the Maroon and Gold Invitational, junior Cristina Reimer (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) (Chester Springs/Downingtown East), and Grimm, finished first and second, respectively. Senior Lauren Ayers (Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) (Ocean Twp, N.J/Ocean Twp), placed fifth. The Golden Bears walked away from the meet with first place. Struggling to overcome pre-season injuries, Coach Ray Hoffman is rotating the runners per match, until the team is healthy enough to run together as a unit.
The Meet of Champions will mark the second race of the season for the men. Coming off of a successful meet last weekend at the Maroon and Gold Invitational by placing first, the Golden Bears are hoping this weekend will prove successful.
Although Hoffman has emphasized that this is a rebuilding year for the men, last weekend the Golden Bears had six runners finish in the top 10. Senior Ben Loht (Lewistown, PA/Indian Valley) (Lewistown/Indian Valley), finished first with a time of 27:27.4. Junior Kevin Rodgers (Clifton Heights, PA/Upper Darby) (Clifton Heights/Upper Darby), finished in second place (28:08.8). Sophomore Ryan Reich (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) (Oley/Oley Valley), secured third place, (28:12.3), for the Golden Bears.
Sophomore Frank Nick (Kintnersville, PA/Palisades) (Kintnersville/Palisades), and freshman Joe Dyas (Westampton, PA/Rancocas Valley) (Westampton/Rancocas Valley), stayed near the front of the pack by also finishing among the top 10. Sophomore Eli Weeks (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) (Pottstown/Owen J. Roberts), who hasn't raced since high school, competed for the first time in two years and showed promising results, with a finish of sixth place.
The KU men finished 13th place in 2007 at this meet. Loht and Rodgers know the course from previous experience. Loht finished the race with a time of 27:49.4. Rodgers completed the race in 28:27.4. Last year's champion, University of Michigan and second place winners, Penn State University, will not be returning.
The Kutztown squad comes back to the area on Friday, October 2 for the Paul Short Invitational, hosted by Lehigh University. The Golden Bears will then have two more meets before performing at the PSAC Championships.
--KU--
