Sept. 22, 2007
Men's Results (PDF) • Women's Results (PDF)
BRONX, N.Y.: September 22, 2007 - The Nittany Lion women's cross country team posted a first-place finish, while the men's team managed a third-place effort at the John "Paddy" Doyle Meet of Champions, hosted by Iona College at Van Cortlandt Park. Leading the way for the Lions were sophomore Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) and freshman Lucas Zarzeczny (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
"It was an excellent day for the Nittany Lions with tremendous efforts from both squads," said Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "The women's team achieved their goal of winning the meet with a full team effort."
Franek finished the 6000-meter course in 21:51.0, good for fifth overall and third in the team scoring. Turning in an outstanding effort was redshirt-freshman Leah Rosenfeld (Ridgefield, Conn.), who ran 22:17.6 in her first collegiate 6K, to finish ninth.
Not far behind was the duo of Claire Percival (Sarnia, Ontario), and Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas), who placed 15th and 16th, respectively, crossing the line in 22:24.0, and 22:35.2. Junior Claire Berryman (Morgantown, W.Va.) finished as the Lions' fifth, taking 20th overall in 22:27.7.
"We got outstanding races from Bridget Franek and Leah Rosenfeld up front, and a great effort from Claire Berryman to round out our top five," continued Sullivan. "It's early in the season, and we've still got cobwebs to shake off. But it's always great to open with a win."
Rounding out the women's top seven were Sonja Hinish (Williamsburg, Pa.) in 23rd place (22:56.7) and Meghan Noecker (Reading, Pa.) in 31st (23:14.6). The Lion women went three, six, 11, 12, and 16 in the team scoring, tallying 48 points - eight points ahead of second-place Cornell (56). Brown took third with a total of 62.
Zarzeczny ran a sensational race in his first-career 8000-meters to place eighth overall with a time of 25:35.2. Tyler McCandless (Bath, Pa.) and Dennis O'Connor (Philadelphia) ran two-three for the Lions, finishing in 17th, and 19th, in 25:58.2, 26:00.2, respectively.
"The men gave a tremendous showing on a difficult course," said Sullivan. "Lucas Zarzeczny represented Penn State very well, running a tough race and we continued to show the strength of our entire team with a 35 second gap between our first and fifth and 38 seconds between our first and sixth."
Junior Brian Fuller (Camp Hill, Pa.) placed 25th as the Nittany Lion number four, running 26:08.6, while classmate Dennis Pollow (Ransomville, N.Y.) finished as the Lions' final scorer, placing 29th in 26:10.0.
Also finishing in the Lion top seven for senior Teddy Quinn (Rush, N.Y.), who took 31st (26:13.8), and John Mahoney (Richboro, Pa.), who claimed 37th in 26:23.6.
The Penn State men tallied 93 points for third, just behind host Iona in first with 72, and Brown in second with 77. Regional competitors Navy (93) and American (109) finished fourth and fifth.
The Lions return to action again next weekend, hosting their first home meet of the season with the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational at the Blue/White Golf Course. The women's race begins at 10 a.m., with the men's following at 10:45 a.m.
Penn State Results
| Overall Place | Team Place | |||
| 5 | 3 | Bridget Franek | 21:51.0 | |
| 9 | 6 | Leah Rosenfeld | 22:17.6 | |
| 15 | 11 | Claire Percival | 22:24.0 | |
| 16 | 12 | Cheryl Spring | 22:35.2 | |
| 20 | 16 | Claire Berryman | 22:47.7 | |
| 23 | 19 | Sonja Hinish | 22:56.7 | |
| 31 | 25 | Meghan Noecker | 23:14.6 | |
| 32 | Janelle Young | 23:15.5 | ||
| 41 | Kathryn Fitzgerald | 23:32.4 | ||
| 45 | Molly Ritter | 23:35.9 | ||
| 48 | Jessica Babcock | 23:39.6 | ||
| Overall Place | Team Place | |||
| 8 | 7 | Lucas Zarzeczny | 25:35.2 | |
| 17 | 16 | Tyler McCandless | 25:58.2 | |
| 19 | 18 | Dennis O'Connor | 26.00.2 | |
| 25 | 24 | Brian Fuller | 26:08.6 | |
| 29 | 28 | Dennis Pollow | 26:10.0 | |
| 31 | 30 | Teddy Quinn | 26:13.8 | |
| 37 | 36 | John Mahoney | 26:23.6 | |
| 50 | Tim Johnson | 26:38.8 | ||
| 59 | Owen Dawson | 26:46.6 | ||
| 72 | Mike Syrnick | 27:07.2 | ||
| 79 | Mark Horton | 27:12.0 | ||
| 142 | Kevin Fuller | 28:49.0 | ||