Knights and Mighty Oaks Crowned 2012 XC National Champions
Lake Placid, NY – Paul Smith’s College concluded an outstanding stint as Cross Country host at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York, with the largest cross country event in USCAA history. This year’s championship featured 17 men’s teams and 17 women’s teams, with over 300 participants.
On a favorable day at the former Olympic cross country skiing site, many of 2011’s winners reigned again. Southern Virginia’s women’s cross country program earned its second straight title, behind All-American Kera Nielson (25:15.93), who did not run for the Knights in 2011. Additional scorers for the Knights were 2011 All-American and 2012 2nd Team All-American Victoria Faulkner (25:35.52), Leah Huber (25:42.25), Shelbi Prince (26:20.56), and Jacey Moore (26:21.09). After edging SUNY ESF by only 18 points last season, the Knights finished ahead of the second place finishers St. Mary of the Woods by 27 points, and third place finishers SUNY ESF by 37 points. This year’s individual champion in women’s cross country was Stephanie Runyon, with a time of 24:11.61. After finishing second in the 2009 and 2010 Championships, Runyon capped off her collegiate career with back to back National Championship runs in Lake Placid.
Women’s 1st Team All-Americans (Top 7 Finishers)
1 Stephanie Runyon St. Mary of the Woods 24:11.61
2 Alex Leandri PSU Wilkes Barre 24:32.62
3 Tatiyanah Johnson Dine College 24:45.99
4 Logan Fry St. Mary of the Woods 25:12.46
5 Kera Neilson Southern Virginia 25:15.93
6 Jordan Weir Daemen 25:28.50
7 Kayla Legassie Maine Presque Isle 25:31.85
Women’s 2nd Team All-Americans (Finishers 8-14)
8 Karen Hunsicker Florida College 25:33.45
9 Hayley Burnhauser PSU Schuylkill 25:35.03
10 Clare Myers Dallas 25:37.33
11 Victoria Faulkner Southern Virginia 25:38.52
12 Leah Huber Southern Virginia 25:42.25
13 Sammie Grove Lindenwood Belleville 25:47.61
14 Danielle Kaveney SUNY ESF 25:48.62*
14 Kristen Campbell SUNY ESF 25:49.13*
*Timing error switched finishers; corrected via video evidence
Women’s Complete Individual Results
Women's National All-Academic Team
On the men's side, the Mighty Oaks of SUNY ESF made it two for two in the USCAA National Championships, posting an overall team score of only 38, and having no scorer post a time over the 29 minute mark. Leading SUNY ESF to their second title was Timmy Callahan (27:45.11) who shaved almost 49 seconds off of his 2011 time where he finished fourth place finish with 1st Team All-American honors. Callahan finished second this year, just under ten seconds behind this year’s individual champion, Dustin Abeita, a freshman from Dine College who posted an impressive 27:36.61. Abeita marks the second straight runner to edge a SUNY ESF runner from first place.
Rounding out the scorers for SUNY ESF were 2012 1st Team All-Americans Taylor Yerrick (28:21.23) and Stephen Slonosky (28:27.59), and 2nd Team All-Americans Brian Busby (28:37.60) and Jon Cleveland (28:53.97). In team results, Dine College gained their second straight runner up trophy with 61 points, followed by 2012 USCAA Director’s Cup Champions Lindenwood University Belleville, who posted 152 points. The champions, SUNY ESF, will now prepare to host the USCAA Cross Country Championships in Syracuse, New York in 2013 and 2014.
Men’s 1st Team All-Americans (Top 7 Finishers)
1 Dustin Abeita Dine College 27:36.61
2 Timmy Callahan SUNY-ESF 27:45.11
3 Patrick Gonzalez Southern Virginia 28:09.89
4 Ronald Hicks Dine College 28:15.83
5 Justin Richardson SUNY Canton 28:16.50
6 Taylor Yerrick SUNY-ESF 28:21.23
7 Stephen Slonosky SUNY-ESF 28:27.59
Men’s 2nd Team All-Americans (Finishers 8-14)
8 Ryan McAnany Dallas 28:28.01
9 Herbert Beyale, III Dine College 28:28.69
10 Corey Roth Paul Smith's 28:30.63
11 Brian Busby SUNY-ESF 28:37.60
12 Jon Cleveland SUNY-ESF 28:53.97
13 Javier Secaira Dallas 28:57.05
14 Jeremy Driscoll SUNY-ESF 29:01.24