Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Ashley Nace
Derick Blair finished first and Alison Sponseller finished eighth in the Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country Landmark Conference Championships on Saturday at Lock Haven, PA.
Blair, a junior, finished first in the men’s 8k division for the second year in a row with a time of 24:44.4 and a nearly 15 second gap from the second-place finisher.
Sponseller, a senior, set a personal best in the women’s 6k with a time of 22:41.9 and earned Second Team All-Landmark.
Both the women’s and men’s teams finished in fifth place overall, the women’s team claiming the spot with 151 points and the men taking it with 107.
“Even though cross country seems like an individual sport, there is a huge team aspect that not everyone gets to witness,” Sponseller said. “The team supports each other in so many ways, and we would not be successful individually without each other.”
The Landmark Championships was Blair’s third first place finish of four races this season.
He said that last year he came into the season with no expectations, but as the returning landmark champion, he had a target on his back this year.
“It’s a lot different offrom a mentality standpoint comparing the two,” he said.
Sponseller’s personal best in the 6k came just after setting a new personal best at her last meet two weeks prior when she finished in 23:03.7.
“My motivation this year has come from the fact that it’s my last cross-country season and I want to make the most of it and challenge myself to be the best I can,” Sponseller said.
In the men’s division, Hunter Valentino also had a high finish for the River Hawks, placing 13th and being named All-Landmark.
Other notable performances for the men’s team include Evander Lackman in 22nd, Andrew Hilke in 36th, and Thomas McGann in 40th.
“There are lots of workouts where maybe everyone is running a different pace, but knowing everyone is there and doing the same workout and running to be the best they can be is a huge part, and I think is the most underrated but important part of running,” Blair said.
The men’s team finished with five members placing in the top 40 of all 100 participants.
Notable performances for the women’s team include EmmaLia Ciccarello finishing 32nd, Jessica Askins in 33rd, and Aubrie Berwager in 41st.
Blair and Sponseller both look to continue there strong perfomance’sperform well at regionals to continue their seasons. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships will be held in Lock Haven, Pa on Saturday, Nov 14. s.
The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships will be held at Lock Haven on November 14.