DELHI, N.Y. (October 27, 2018) – It was strictly a team effort by the SUNY Delhi women's cross country team on Saturday to capture the ACAA Championship. While defending champion Alfred State featured the individual champion in Julia Russell (25:00.0), along with grabbing two of the top three spots and three in the top eight, the Broncos won out with their first five finishers in the top 15 to lead the five-team pack with 42 points.
With Saturday's 6K race taking place on a cold, rainy day at SUNY Delhi's The College Golf Course, it marked the Broncos' second ACAA title in three years, and the team's first since becoming members of NCAA Division III.
Freshman Kali Keyes stayed true to her team-leading form, taking second to lead the Broncos with a time of 25:28.5. Arielle Moheimani grabbed fifth with a mark of 26:20.7, while Katerina Salcedo placed ninth at 27:16.7. With the Pioneers leading the scoring through the top ten finishers, Elise McIntyre took the 11th spot at 27:41.1. A-State's fourth finisher, Katherine Frascella, was next for either side in 13th at 28:20.4. Then Broncos freshman Brittany Patterson clinched the victory for Delhi, becoming the first fifth team finisher in 15th with a time of 28:33.2. Alexis Stevenson added Delhi some good measure with a 17th-place finish at 29:21.0, before the Pioneers' fifth finisher, Molly Heaphy, placed 18th at 29:27.3. Delaney Coughlin crossed the finish line right after for 19th place at 29:31.3. Keyes and Moheimani earned first-team ACAA honors, while Salcedo and McIntyre secured spots on the second team.
"What an exciting race," proclaimed head coach Robb Munro. "Each of the top five women did their part. We knew it would be fairly even up front and that our women in the three, four, and five spots would have to win the race for us. The big points came from Brittany Patterson and Alexis Stevenson. Brittany ran her best race of the season to pick up for a teammate that was struggling and had us tied through four runners. Alexis closed a 30 meter gap with 300 meters left to catch the fifth runner from Alfred State. That gutsy effort flipped the race from a one point loss to a one point win. I am so happy for these women!"
In addition, Tristen Bowker finished 21st with a time of 29:40.6, while Diandra Oliver (31:59.7), Jewel Pignetti (32:09.7) and Madison Ruby (32:24.0) placed 32nd, 33rd and 34th, respectively. Kiera Walker placed 37th at 33:44.1.
The Broncos look to carry their winning momentum into capturing their first USCAA title at the national championships in Virginia Beach, Va. on Friday, Nov. 9.
