JUNIATA CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS FINISH FIFTH AT EAGLE INVITATIONAL

SINKING VALLEY, Pa. – Both the Juniata College men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fifth at their home meet, the 2007 Eagle Cross Country Invitational, held Saturday morning at Fort Roberdeau Historic Site and Natural Area in Altoona, Pa.

Matt Bailey (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) was the top Juniata finisher in the men’s race, completing the 7.5 km course in 26:08.5 and placing ninth overall. Sam Williams (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central) was 24th overall in a time of 26:49.3, while Eric Hoover (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) was 40th overall in a time of 27:38.5. Mircea Bogdon, an unattached runner, won the even in a time of 24:59.4. The Eagles finished with 154 points, trailing champion Slippery Rock University (15 points), Bucknell University (80 pts.), Saint Francis University (115 pts.), and Messiah College (141 pts.).

The women’s squad placed three runners in the top 20, led by Aubrey Cyphert (North East, Pa./Seneca) in 11th place; she completed the 5 km course in 21:02.1. Laura Rupprecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) was 13th in a time of 21:04.7, and Megan McQuillan (Severna Pack, Md./Seton Keough) was 18th in a time of 21:14.9.

Slippery Rock also won the women’s event with 42 points, followed by Bucknell (78 pts.), Saint Francis (79 pts.), and Messiah College (101 pts.). Saint Francis’ Anna Hoffman won the women’s event in a time of 19:16.0, setting a new course record.

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