The Plattsburgh State cross country team seems as if it can do no wrong this season.
The women finished 2nd out of thirteen teams, while the men finished 5th out of fourteen teams, both sides giving strong showings at the Saratoga Invitational last Saturday.
Ethan Vinson and Lauren Perschetz both were the team’s top finishers in their respective races again this week, with Vinson finishing 11th overall in his race and Perschetz finishing 4th overall in hers.
Coach Andrew Krug was once again happy with his runners this week.
“I was ecstatic with our performance on Saturday,” Krug said. “The team ran really well, and I hope we can keep that momentum going into the next race.”
The women were following up getting ranked 10th in the USTFCCCA Atlantic Regional Rankings, and they did not disappoint.
Five of the seven of the Cards on the women’s side finished the five-kilometer race in under 19 minutes.
“This performance was crucial for us to stay in the rankings, and justify us being there to begin with,” Krug said. “I definitely think we made a statement.”
Make a statement they certainly did. The women had a little extra reason to celebrate their second place performance, as news came out this week that they improved their ranking to 9th in the region.
Kristina Watrobski, a freshman who has been having a stand out rookie season had another great meet, finishing as the women’s 3rd finisher and 16th overall.
“I was really happy (with my time), because I didn’t think I was in that kind of shape,” Watrobski said. “So it was a good confidence booster.”
She also spoke of just how special it has been being a part of getting the team ranked.
“It’s been really exciting because I know where we were at last year, and we’re so much farther ahead this year,” Watrobski said. “I’m really excited for us to do well and keep improving.”
On the men’s side, sophomores Jeriqho Gadway, Matthew Jenkins, John Weed, and William Lindau continued their success finishing behind Vinson as the PSUC’s second through fifth finishers.
“I think we really came together,” Lindau said. “John Weed and I really worked together the last two miles, I was really happy that we finished four/five.”
Lindau had his own thoughts on the women’s recent accolades.
“Seeing them succeed is great, and it just pushes us to be better and get ranked as well,” Lindau said.”
The success that the Cards have had all season is starting to develop a growing sense of confidence within the team.
“Hopefully, among the athletes, their confidence is bulding,” Krug said. “Going to a meet like last Saturday’s should definitely help with confidence.”
Watrobski confirmed Krug’s feelings.
“I think it was huge to place so well at the first couple of meets,” Watrobski said. “It gave us more confidence for last Saturday, and I think it really showed.”
Lindau also had similar thoughts.
“We’ve come a long way compared to the last few years,” Lindau said. “Just seeing us finishing up higher at some of the more competitive meets has really boosted everyone’s confidence.”
PSUC’s next meet will the Inter-Regional Border Battle on October 15, hosted by Rowan University on the course that will be used for this year’s Division III Atlantic Regional Championships.
The Cards are focused on staying diligent through the break, and training hard for the upcoming meet.
“I think we have a good week to get in some good hard training, and then be ready to go by the time postseason comes around,” Watrobski said.
“It’s going to be nice to get a weekend off,” Lindau said. “Then we come back to some more competitive meets going into championship season, it’s really exciting to see how we are going to do.
“We’re going to continue training as usual,” Krug said. “The weekend will hopefully just be a refreshing weekend for team members to go home and see their family and friends before we start the important stretch of our season.”
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