MOUNT MORRIS, NY - On Saturday, under picture perfect skies the Hartwick men's and women's cross country teams competed at the NCAA Regional. This season's finale was contested in Mt. Morris, New York among the natural splendor of Letchworth State Park.
Both courses are a meandering track of grass and dirt that at times takes the runners along the lip of a breathtaking 600-foot gorge. The men race over the distance of five miles while the women made the jump to the NCAA distance of 6k (3.7 miles).
Both teams competed well with the men placing 35th out of 42 represented teams, while the women's team finished 26th out of 42 competing teams.
Leading the women's team for a season-best in her final cross country race in the Hartwick jersey was senior Gabrielle Dello (Mount Upton, NY/SUNY Delhi) with a time of 25:04 for 118th place out of 239 competitors.
Junior Laura Gray's (New Windsor, NY/Howell) 25:45 was good enough for 144th, Junior Kim Negrich (Mayfield, NY/Mayfield) time of 26:09 earned 161st, Sophomore Erika Gates (Vestal, NY/Vestal) turned in a time of 26:12 (163rd). Freshman Sheila Niedziela (Sprakers, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) rounded out the scoring in 26:35 for 178th place.
On the men's side it was a day of excellence as every Hartwick runner posted a lifetime or season-best time. Again leading the men, was freshman strongman John Stuligoss (Kinosha, WI/Kenosha Bradford) in a lifetime best 28:29 for 160th place. Junior Tim Sattler (Warwick, NY/Warwick) posted a 50-second personal record as he finished in 28:31 for 164th.
Hartwick freshman and most improved runner Ethan Staats (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) posted a lifetime personal record of 29:24 for 203rd, junior Justin Pedersen (Gilbertsville, NY/Gilbertsville Mount Upton) competed to a season-best 30:30 for 230th, and junior Ben Wronkoski (Salisbury Center, NY/Dolgeville) finished in 31:54 for 247th place.
"It was wonderful to feel the excitement and sense of achievement as many in our group finished the season with lifetime bests," stated Hartwick Coach Dereck Treadwell after the meet.
