ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Oneonta men's and women's cross country teams compete at the SUNYAC Championships on Saturday, November 1, with Plattsburgh serving as the host institution. Both races are at the Rugar Woods Cross Country Course. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the women's race at 12 p.m.
In addition to Oneonta, the SUNYAC Championships consist of Buffalo State, Canton, Cobleskill, Cortland, Delhi, Fredonia, Morrisville, New Paltz, Plattsburgh, Oswego, and Potsdam. Cortland won both the men's and women's titles last season.
On the women's side, junior Gia Engel (Syosset, NY/Syosset) and sophomore Natalia Sweat (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh) have led the Red Dragons this season. Engel posted a personal best 6k time of 22:29.6 at the Rowan Interregional Border Battle on October 18, placing 27th overall. Engel placed in the top ten in three meets, with a second-place finish at the SUNY Poly Short Course 4k Invitational at 16:59.2. She then took third at the Oneonta Airfield Invite 4k at 15:50.9. She took eighth at the SUNYAC Preview Invitational at 23:58.2. Sweat competed in six meets and recorded a personal best of 23:19.9 at the Paul Short Run. She won the Oneonta Airfield Invite with a personal best 4k of 15:39.4 and crossed second overall at the SUNYAC Preview at 23:54.7.
Following the lead pack, junior Anya Sloth (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta Senior) tallied a personal best of 22:51.7 at the Rowan Border Battle to finish 53rd overall. Sloth won the SUNY Poly Short Course Invite 4k at 16:58.9, and finished fourth at the Airfield Invite at a personal best of 15:55.6. Freshman Jill Cinquina (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) ran a personal best of 23:24.7 at the Paul Short Run, and had a ninth-place finish at the SUNYAC Preview Invitational (24:06.4). Sophomore Anna Kern (Central Valley, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) had a season-best time of 24:38.4 at the Rowan Border Battle. Junior Olivia Komacek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has consistently dropped her time at each meet this season, setting a personal record of 24:44.8 at the Rowan Border Battle.
Junior Noah Pickard (Batavia, NY/Batavia) has led the men's team, recording a personal best of 27:29.7 at the Rowan Border Battle. He placed in the top ten in three meets, including a fifth-place finish at the Oneonta Airfield Invitational 6k at 21:23.0. Pickard was seventh at the SUNYAC Preview Invitational at 28:02.4. Freshman Alexander Wheeler () has been one of Oneonta's top finishers, running a personal record of 27:30.9 at the Interregional Border Battle. Wheeler placed sixth at the Airfield Invite 6k at 21:42.0. Sophomore Vincent DiStefano (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown West) recorded a season-best time of 28:44.6 at the Rochester Yellowjacket Invitational and took 11th at the Oneonta Airfield Invitational 6k with a 22:31.0. Junior Cael Owen (Gillett, PA/Horseheads)s improved each race and capped off with a personal best of 28:48.9 at the Interregional Border Battle.
Following the SUNYAC Championships, Oneonta will travel to the NCAA Division III Niagara Regional Championships on Saturday, November 15, held in Rochester, NY.
