CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TOP DIVISION III FINISHERS AT PSU-ALTOONA’S BLUE/WHITE CLASSIC

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. – The Juniata College men’s and women’s cross country teams made strong starts to their 2007 seasons, as both finished second behind only Division I scholarship programs from St. Francis University at the Penn State-Altoona Blue/White Classic, held Friday in Hollidaysburg, Pa.

The men’s team finished second with 34 points, behind St. Francis with 21 points. The host squad from PSU-Altoona was third with 85 points, followed by Lake Erie College (121 pts.) and Mount Aloysius College (139 pts.).

Matt Bailey (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) was the top Juniata finisher, placing second overall after completing the 5000m course in 16:27. Bailey was one of five Eagle runners to finish in the top five: Sam Williams (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central) was fifth in a time of 16:51; Eric Hoover (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) was eighth with a time of 17:28, while Jason Hoover was ninth in a time of 17:31; and Steve Schmitt (New Providence, Pa./Solanco) was 10^th in a time of 17:37.

The women’s team finished second with 37 points, trailing the winning squad from St. Francis by 14 points. PSU-Altoona was third with 85 points, while Lake Erie was fourth (109 pts.) and Mount Aloysius College was fifth (135 pts.)

Laura Rupprecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) finished fourth overall with a time of 16:21 on the 4000m course, and was Juniata’s top finisher. Aubrey Cyphert (North East, Pa./Seneca) was fifth in a time of 16:25, while Megan McQuillan (Severna Park, Md./Seton Keough) was sixth (16:28), and Meghan Jones (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) was seventh (16:30).

Both squads will compete next weekend at the Hanover Invitational in Hanover, Ind.

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