Juniata cross country teams top D-III squads at D-II Pre-National meet

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Juniata College men’s and women’s cross country teams were each the top Division III finishers at the Division II Pre-National meet, hosting Saturday at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa.

The Eagle men’s team finished 12th out of 22 teams in the event with 378 points, led by Matt Bailey’s (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) 57th place finish in a time of 27:29. Nik Klena (Franklin, Pa./Oil City) also turned in time under 28 minutes, finishing 67th with a time of 27:50.

Steve Schmitt (New Providence, Pa./Solanco) finished just off the pace set by Bailey and Klena, finishing 81st with a time of 28:17. Tripp Rudolph (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) was right behind Schmitt in 82nd place (28:25), followed by Kenny Goodfellow (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) in 91st place (28:51), Kevin Donahue (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) in 94th place (28:52), and Jake Hartberger (Temple, Pa./Muhlenberg) in 101st position (29:13).

The University of California-San Diego won the event with 52 points.

The Juniata women’s team placed 14th out of 29 squads, with Laura Rupprecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) leading the Eagles in 73rd place with a time of 24:55.

Megan McQuillan (Severna Park, Md./Seton Keough) trailed Rupprecht in 76th place with a time of 24:57, while Aubrey Cyphert (North East, Pa./Seneca) finishing 78th in a time of 24:59.

Meghan Jones (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) was 94th with a time of 25:23, followed by Danielle Brooks (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) in 115th place (25:53), Megan Peterson (Canton, Pa./Canton) in 147th place (27:00), and Lindsay Norton (Glen Rock, Pa./Susquehannock) in 152nd place (27:10).

Both teams get to enjoy next weekend at home, as the Eagles prepare to host the Juniata College Invitational next Saturday, Oct. 11.