Pioneers Win Nazareth Invite, Women 4th

The Alfred State College men's cross country team won the Nazareth College Invitational while the women finished 4th out of nine teams.

Ryan Demers (Mexico) finished 3rd overall to lead the Pioneers.  He crossed the line of 6k course in 21:52.05.  Frank Mastraccio (Rome Free) was right behind him in 4th (21:54.34).  Alex Farrell (N. Tonawanda) was 6th (22:20.16), Joe Seitz (Williamsville North) was 8th (22:23.11), and Brandon Lewis (Red Creek) was 13th (22:52.58).

The men who are currently ranked #2 in Division III of the NJCAA scored a 34 and were ahead of Nazareth College (49), Daemen College (85), SUNY ESF (105), Finger Lakes CC (117), Wells College (143), Keuka College (194), Medaille College (216), and Hilbert College (255).

Abbey Benton (Frewsburg) led the women with a 11th place finish (17:12.68) in the 4k course.  Tara Murphy (Rochester/Wilson) was 16th (17:49.93), Stormie Hamill (Lakeland) was 33rd (19:45.14), and Alison Hadley (Mt. Mercy) was 35th (20:01.73).

Nazareth won the women's team competition with 20 points followed by Daemen (74), SUNY ESF (94), ASC (134), Onondaga CC (135), Keuka (139), FLCC (152), Wells (205), and Hilbert (268).

The Pioneers return to action next Saturday when they race at the University of Rochester.  Action is set for a 11 a.m. start.