Author: leahgood

Cross Country Tackled Their Home Course at the Delaware Invitational

leahgood

The Delaware club cross country team traveled up the road to White Clay Creek State Park to race on their home course. Our women placed 5th overall and the men placed 3rd despite some tough competition.

The women started the day with their 5th place finish in the 6k. Sophomore Camila Montes displayed her talent finishing first for the Delaware women with a time of 27:26. Shortly behind was fellow sophomore Jade Barrett finishing within the Delaware top seven again with a time of 27:41. Freshman Ariana DeNicola (28:18) and Kate Kershaw (28:37) worked together to take the 3rd and 4th Delaware spots. Finishing close behind were juniors Margaret Fogarty (28:52) and Leah Goodman (28:59) finishing just under 29 minutes. Exactly a minute later was junior Hannah Pash (29:59) breaking 30 minutes and completing the Delaware top seven. Following close behind was senior Natalie Pinto with a time of 30:01.

The men followed with a third-place finish in the 8k. Sophomore Evan Diefenbeck was in a familiar position leading the Delaware pack with a respectable time of 28:11. Fellow sophomore Matthew Kwiatkowski broke the 30-minute barrier finishing close behind at 28:21 and taking the second scoring spot. Sophomore Dave Kelly (30:15) led a Delaware pack with senior Daniel Giron (30:29) and junior Brett Balthis (30:44) working together to claim the next three spots. Sophomore Evan Pawlik (30:59) earned the sixth Delaware spot, and graduate student Anthony Stohr rounded out the top seven with a time of 31:11.

After racing at hilly White Clay, Delaware looks forward to a flatter Lehigh course for NIRCA Regionals on October 21st.

Full results can be found here.

Diefenbeck about to cross the finish line.
Barrett attacking the hills.

Blue Hens Impress Competition Despite a Late Start to the Season

leahgood

Although the Delaware club cross country team had a later than anticipated start to the season, they competed in the DC Invitational on Saturday, September 30th. The team returned to DC for the second consecutive year but tackled a new hilly course at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield VA. This NIRCA sanctioned race was hosted by George Washington University.

The weather was clear and the women’s 6k led the meet off at 10 am. Freshman Gabriella Maletta continued to lead the Delaware women placing 13th overall with a time of 26:09. Making her cross country debut and finishing second for the team was junior Delaney Oeth coming in at 26:11 and placing 14th overall. Setting up a good start to their sophomore seasons were Jade Barrett (26:14), and Hannah Heredia (26:15) placing 15th and 16th respectively. Freshman Ariana DeNicola (26:42) finished her first collegiate race claiming the 5th spot on the team and 21st overall. Rounding out the Delaware top seven were graduate student Robin Collura (27:19) and freshman Kate Kershaw (27:27) both making their Delaware debuts.

The men’s 8k kicked off shortly behind and they pulled away with a clear team victory. Although the race distance was a bit short, sophomores Brady Sheaffer and Evan Diefenbeck worked together to come in first and second with a standout time of 26:02.3 and 26:02.5 respectively. Graduate student John Papadopoulos’s hard work showed with his third-place team finish and taking the fifth overall spot coming in at 26:43. Fellow grad student Chris Calandra (27:26) and sophomore Michael Toy (27:56) continued Delaware’s success placing within the top ten spots. Our scoring group was capped off by junior Brett Balthis (28:16) and grad student Anthony Stohr (29:06.98) to wrap up the Delaware top seven for the men’s ~8k.

Delaware will be preparing to compete on their home turf at the Delaware Invitational, on Friday, October 13th!

Full meet results can be found here.

Sheaffer and Diefenbeck working the final hill.
DeNicola racing hard
All our wonderful athletes who competed

UDXCTF Season Debut at the 47th Gary P. Lister Bottle & Cork 5k.

leahgood

The start of the fall semester means the beginning of a new season for the Club XCTF team. Both cross-country runners and sprinters tackled the heat this Saturday, September 9th, at the annual Bottle & Cork 5k road race. Despite just beginning their season, the team exceeded expectations with many notable performances.

The top ten overall spots included six current Delaware runners, two graduate students, and one alumnus. Sophomore Brady Sheaffer finished first with a respectable time of 16:18.0. Close behind was sophomore Alejandro Lobo coming in at 16:28.6. Following the two sophomores was Junior Brett Balthis (17:17.5), and graduate student Chris Calandra (17:28.2) to round out the top five. Sophomore Jack Pelczar (17:58.3), senior Daniel Giron (18:12.2), and graduate student Anthony Stohr (18:13.7) showed their talent with 6th, 7th, and 8th place finishes. Senior Matt Scarpelli secured the 10th overall spot with a time of 18:20.9.

Current Sophmore Evan Diefenbeck tackled the 10-miler instead this weekend at Dewey and finished 1st overall in 57:02.2. Additionally the team cheered for our volunteer coach Mark Keese to finish his 10-miler as well in 1:35.14.4.

Moving on to the women’s results, UDXCTF competed hard in Dewey this Saturday with various standout performances. Freshman Gabriella Maletta dominated with a women’s first-place overall finish of 21:48.5. Following close behind was freshman teammate Carly Curnutt finishing second with a time of 21:56.2. Graduate student Robin Collura (22:05.9), sophomore Jade Barrett (22:07.2), and junior Delaney Oeth (22:45.6) took 3rd, 4th, and 5th place respectively.

An honorable mention to all runners who placed within their age groups, the freshmen for completing their first collegiate race, as well as multiple sprinters attacking this 5k.

The cross country team will attend their official season opener on September 16th at the Highlander Invite.

Full meet results can be found here.

Lobo finishing right behind Sheaffer.
Maletta on the final stretch of her race.
Oeth smiling her way to the finish line.
Sophmores Sobocinski, and Trageser working together.