Following their strong performance in the Cardinal Classic, the Plattsburgh State cross country team continued to impress with a solid showing at the Ron Stonitsch Invitational.
The women’s team finished 5th out of 15 teams while the men finished 6th out 14.
Head Coach Andrew Krug once again was happy with his team’s performances in their second meet of the season.
“I think we had a great performance on Saturday. We went to a meet we had never been to before, so we were looking at a new course,” Krug said. “I think we did very well.”
Seniors Ethan Vinson and Lauren Perschetz led PSUC, finishing 4th in their races after placing 4th and 3rd in their races last week, respectively.
“Lauren was in a race against not only the defending Division III national champion team, Williams College, but she also raced against the 2014 individual champion,” Krug said. “She had some good competition and she performed very well for this point in the season.”
Krug had similar sentiments regarding Vinson.
“Ethan was in the same boat going up against some nationally ranked teams, and some very good individuals,” Krug said.
Among standouts at the meet was freshman Kristina Watrobski. She continued building on her great performance at the Cardinal Classic with a 33rd overall finish in this meet, while being the third finisher that factored into scoring for the Cards.
“She’s a freshman who ran very well,” Krug said. “I know she was extremely happy with her results.”
Junior Hayley Mooney, who finished second on the woman’s side for PSUC, had similar feelings on freshmen starting to take the mantle.
“I think it’s awesome I’m really happy with where the team is at right now,” Mooney said. “We’re all pretty close.”
Mooney was the women’s second finisher for the second week in a row, following up her 13th overall finish with a 29th overall finish.
“I was really happy with my time, and where I am at with my training,” Mooney said.
On the men’s side, Matthew Jenkins was the Cards’ second finisher after being the third finisher at the Cardinal Classic.
“Of course, I was happy to be the second finisher for the team, but there is always improvements to be made,” Jenkins said. “We’re always pushing each other hard. It can be anyone’s game any day.”
Jenkins was one of the seven finishers who factored into the PSUC’s scoring, coming in 53rd overall after finishing in 12th at the much smaller Cardinal Classic last week.
The men will see their race increase from six to eight kilometers, while the women’s race will be six kilometers instead of last week’s five.
“The men are going to bump up to an 8000 meter race,” Krug said. “The men got a little taste of a longer race, but they are still not used to an eight-k (kilometer), so that’s what we’re really going to be working on.”
Jenkins responded similarly when asked about the next meet.
“We’re working up to an eight-k, and we’re just trying to push in the second half more,” said Jenkins.
Mooney also shared her thoughts on preparing for the upcoming meet and beyond.
“I’m just focusing on having good practices and good workouts to carry me on through the rest of the season,” Mooney said.
The team’s next meet will be the Ronald C. Hoffman Invitational hosted by St. Lawrence University on Sept. 24.
“We’re just turning the page, learning from the last race and applying it to the next one,” Krug said.
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