Big Blue

The Alfred State cross country swept both the men's and women's races at the annual Alfred Invitational in a steady rain.  Both team's scored a perfect 15.

The Pioneer men finished 1-7 led by Jedadiah Platt (Appelton/Barker).  Platt finished the 8k course in 31:53.71.  Jordan Rusek (Buffalo/Williamsville East) was 2nd (31:54.94), Logan Phillips (Genesee Valley) was 3rd (32:41.72), Casey Hopkins (Boston/Hamburg) was 4th (32:56.04), and Zachary Hale (Rochester/Greece Athena) was 5th (33:47.23). 

The Alfred State women's cross country team is ranked 5th in the first NJCAA Division III poll released today.  The Lady Pioneers are the defending NJCAA DIII National Champions and open up the regular season this weekend at the Alfred State Invitational.

SUNY Delhi is currently ranked #1 followed by Ocean (NJ) CC, Suffolk CC, and Mohawk Valley CC.  Fashion Institute of Technology, Howard (MD) CC, Hudson Valley CC, Joliet (IL) College, and Queensborough CC round out the top ten.

The Alfred State cross country team finished a busy preseason this weekend with the running of the annual alumni race.  The cross country program welcomed back 18 former runners to campus in the event.

Four Alfred State student-athletes were honored by the NJCAA for their excellence in the classroom.  Thomas Anderson (Sodus) and Amanda Bush (Altoona, PA) earned the NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement while Joe Markel (Arkport) and Zinta Rutins (Silver Spring, MD) earned the NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement.

Volleyball player Amanda Bush (Altoona, PA) was awarded both the Alfred State Athletic Department female academic and leadership awards while Thomas Anderson (Sodus) was named the male academic award winner and Rory Spain (Tully) was the recipient of the male leadership award.

Longtime cross country and track & field coach Gary Moore was inducted into the NJCAA Division III Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame this past weekend.  Moore was inducted in a ceremony during the 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Championships that were held at Pioneer Stadium.

The NCAA Division III membership committee announced this week that it has granted exploratory status to the Alfred State athletic program.  Alfred State submitted the NCAA application in January.

 “Moving to NCAA is a natural evolution in creating a four-year college environment at Alfred State. We are excited about the prospects of having our athletes compete for four years wearing the blue & gold,”  said Alfred State President, John Anderson.

The Alfred State College women's cross country racked up numerous awards as they raced to the NJCAA Division III National title. 

The Alfred State College women's cross country raced to the NJCAA Division III National Championship on Saturday in Westfield, MA.  The national championship is the second in the progam's history and first since 2003.

Alfred State College cross country teammates Tara Murphy (Rochester/Wilson) and Diana Burley (Warsaw) have been named the ASC Athletes of the Week by the SID office.

Murphy finished 3rd at last weekend's Region III Championships to lead the Lady Pioneers.  She finished the 5k course in 22:47.95.

Burley finished 4th overall with a time of 23:21.75.

Murphy and Burley helped lead the Lady Pioneers to a Region III Championship and are part of the #1 ranked team in the latest NJCAA Division III poll.