Seniors Nicole Blaesser and Jorge Medina both
took first place finishes and set new course records to lead the IUP
cross country team at the Daniel Walker Invitational hosted by Buffalo
State University.
Blaesser
(right) had a time of 17:42 in the 5k race to
outdistance the field by 28 seconds. Medina covered the 8k
course in 25:21 to edge out Slippery Rock’s Jeff Weiss, the reigning PSAC and East Region champion.
Rounding out the top five IUP women behind
Blaesser were Maureen Newell (19:22), Laura Blaesser (19:29), Stacie Stockard (19:46) and Marissa Umbel
(21:02). Erica Hoffman, IUP’s No. 2 runner, did not compete.
Medina
(left) was followed in the men’s standings by
Eric Kruttschnitt (26:18), Nate Shelly (26:24), Chad Phares (28:14),
Josh Lafleur (28:35) and Luke Snyder (28:59). IUP was without two of
its top five runners in Adam Shinsky and Matt Gaudet.
In the team standings, the IUP women were fourth with 112 points,
trailing Geneseo (33), Malone (51) and Slippery Rock (108).
The men were fifth with 155 points, behind Geneseo (24), Malone (56),
Slippery Rock (123) and Brockport (145).
IUP is off next Saturday before hosting its own
invitational at Mack Park on Sept. 16. The men run at 11 a.m. while the
women’s race is scheduled for noon.
Blaesser
(right) had a time of 17:42 in the 5k race to
outdistance the field by 28 seconds. Medina covered the 8k
course in 25:21 to edge out Slippery Rock’s Jeff Weiss, the reigning PSAC and East Region champion.
Medina
(left) was followed in the men’s standings by
Eric Kruttschnitt (26:18), Nate Shelly (26:24), Chad Phares (28:14),
Josh Lafleur (28:35) and Luke Snyder (28:59). IUP was without two of
its top five runners in Adam Shinsky and Matt Gaudet.