Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Sat., Sept. 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cross Country

Strong showing at Geneseo Invitational

CASTILE, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State women finished fourth Satruday against a strong field of 16 teams -- including the No. 1 team in the nation -- at the Geneseo Invitational.

The Blue Devils trailed only the host Blue Knights, the defending national champs and current No. 1 ranked team, as well as Ohio Northern and Laurentian College (Ont.) over the 6,000-meter Letchworth State Park course.

Freshman Jessica Bennett (Rochester/West Irondequoit) maintained her No. 1 standing for Fredonia State. She finished 18th overall in a time of 23:23.

Finishing second for the Blue Devils -- and 26th overall -- was senior Rachel McNamara (Lakeview/Nardin) in a personal-best 23:52. Rounding out the top five were junior Samantha Ellwood (Hamburg/Hamburg), 39th in 24:21; senior Aimee Milks (Binghamton/Chenango Forks), 56th in 24:46; and senior Ashley Tramp (Buffalo/Kenmore East), 56th in 24:46. The sixth Fredonia State finisher, sophomore Trisha Ippolito (Angola/Lake Shore) was 60th overall in a personal-best 24:56. Her improved placement allowed the Blue Devils. No. 9 in the latest Atlantic Regional rankings, to defeat three teams ranked ahead of them: RIT, Brockport, and Plattsburgh.

In the men's 8,000-meter race, the Blue Devils -- eighth of 18 teams -- were led by Queensbury, N.Y., freshmen Tom Williams (27th, 26:49) and Jared Newell (37th, 27:03). Not too distant was senior Kevin Buzzelli (Grand Island/Grand Island), 41st overall in personal-best 27:06. Senior Jason Smith (Queensbury/Queensbury) and sophomore Matt Wysocki (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) were 71st and 96th, resepectively, to complete Fredonia State's top five -- Smith in 27:48, Wysocki in 28:30. The men were behind Geneseo and Brockport, but defeated Plattsburgh and Oswego from among SUNYAC schools. The win over Plattsburgh avenged a loss to the Cardinals in the 2005 SUNYAC Championship Meet.

Both women's and men's teams compete next Saturday at the Nazareth College Short-Course Invitational.

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