Mindy Sawtelle, Jorge Medina Lead IUP Cross Country Teams at Daniel Walker Invitational

Mindy Sawtelle and Jorge Medina were both beaten out by just one tick and settled for second place finishes at the Daniel Walker Cross Country Invitational hosted by Buffalo State University.

Sawtelle covered the 5K distance in a time of 18:26 and was edged out by rival Julie Nemergut of Edinboro.  Sawtelle helped IUP finish third with 65 points, trailing only Geneseo (43) and Edinboro (52).

Rounding out the top five were Malone (80) and Rochester Tech (229).

Medina posted a time of 26:28 in the five-mile race, falling one second behind winner Nick Schweiker of Malone.  As a team, the IUP men were fifth with 117 points behind Malone (32), Geneseo (59), Edinboro (63) and Rochester Tech (116).

Nicole Blaesser joined Sawtelle on the awards platform with a fifth place finish in 19:16.  Katie Farnsworth (16th, 20:06) and Erica Hoffman (17th, 20:08) also placed in the top 20.

Rounding out the top seven on the women's side were Maureen Newell (25th, 20:38), Charlene Wirfel (27th, 20:40) and Stacie Stockard (32nd, 20:52).  Newell and Stockard are freshmen who were competing on the collegiate level for the first time.

In the men's race, Medina was followed by Eric Kruttschnitt, who was 17th in 27:18.  Also in the top seven were freshman Nate Shelly (28th, 28:03), Bryan Bellinger (34th, 28:21), Nick Hornick (36th, 28:25), Matt Gaudet (37th, 28:33) and Adam Shinsky (44th, 29:12).

IUP will take next Saturday off before hosting its own invitational at Mack Park on September 17.

Women's Team Standings: Geneseo (43), Edinboro (52), IUP (65), Malone (80), Rochester Tech (229), Buffalo State (285), Houghton (311), William Smith (360), Cuyahoga (363)

IUP Women's Runners: Mindy Sawtelle (2nd, 18:26), Nicole Blaesser (5th, 19:16), Katie Farnsworth (16th, 20:06), Erica Hoffman (17th, 20:08), Maureen Newell (25th, 20:38), Charlene Wirfel (27th, 20:40), Stacie Stockard (32nd, 20:52), Katy Makstutis (51st, 21:46), Meaghan Strong (60th, 22:08), Marisa Umbel (69th, 22:41), Bethany Moreau (72nd, 22:45), Kristine Clark (73rd, 22:59), Gena Gentile (76th, 23:14), Rachel Eisenfeld (79th, 23:17), Jen Moore (87th, 23:53), Jen Wetzel (95th, 24:48), Lauren Sharpless (103rd, 25:41), Joline Allen (104th, 25:51)

Men's Team Standings: Malone (32), Geneseo (59), Edinboro (63), Rochester Tech (116), IUP (117), Houghton (223), Buffalo State (271), Hobart (461)

IUP Men's Runners: Jorge Medina (2nd, 26:28), Eric Kruttschnitt (17th, 27:18), Nate Shelly (28th, 28:03), Bryan Bellinger (28:21), Nick Hornick (36th, 28:25), Matt Gaudet (37th, 28:33), Adam Shinsky (44th, 29:12), Jerome Myers (46th, 29:17), Chad Phares (56th, 30:12), Mike Troy (79th, 31:35), Mike Page (84th, 32:17), Ryan Hoskins (86th, 32:39), Matt Beucker (89th, 33:43)