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Cross Country teams ready to start postseason at Liberty League Championships

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Championship season begins this weekend for the RIT men's and women's cross country teams. The Tigers will compete at the Liberty League Championships, hosted by St. Lawrence, on Saturday (Nov. 2).

The women's race is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., followed by the men's race at 12:00 p.m. 

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Watch: Here
Live Results: Here
Championship Website: Here

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

  • The Tigers came in fourth place out of nine teams at last year's Liberty League Championship. Senior Sierra Danieu placed 11th out of 100 runners. 
  • RIT's best result this season was winning the Highlander Invitational on Oct. 12. The Tigers also had strong showings in several other races. The team placed second in the season-opening Terry Rodenbeck Invitational to go along with third place finishes at the Harry F. Anderson and Kara Hall Memorial Invitationals.
  • Danieu has led the Tigers this season with two first place finishes as well as placing third in the Terry M. Rodenbeck Invitational and 14th out of 255 runners at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.
  • Sophomores Kathryn Arbegast and Therese Georgia have been key performers this season. Arbegast has placed second in two races this season and a solid 17th place finish at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational. Arbegast was the top finisher for the Tigers at the Terry Rodenbeck and Yellowjacket Invitationals. Georgia has two top-ten finishes this season as well as placing 29th to finish third for the Tigers at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational.  
  • RIT is in search of their first Liberty League crown as St. Lawrence has won a conference-best 16 titles. Vassar comes in to Saturday's race as the defending champions. 

Projected Lineup
Sierra Danieu
Kathryn Arbegast
Therese Georgia
Abby Nautel
Eva Reilly
Rachael Ladd
Abby Thomas
Jade Kimmel
Julia Gloss
Sydney Borofsky

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

  • In last year's Liberty League Championship race, the Tigers finished fifth out of nine teams. As a sophomore, Evan Owens placed 27th for the Tigers.
  • For the third-straight year, RIT won the Highlander Invitational. The Tigers also claimed second in the season opening Terry Rodenbeck Invitational and fourth at the Kara Hall Memorial Invitational.
  • Juniors Derick Koen  and Evan Owens have been the Tigers' top runners this year. Koen led RIT with two first place finishes while Owens has three top 10 finishes. The duo took first and second respectively at the Highlander Invitational.
  • Sophomore Jackson Burger has been a consistent contributor for the team this season, finishing second for RIT on two occasions.
  • Only two programs have ever won the Liberty League title. St. Lawrance won the first 21 championships (1995-2015) as RPI have won the last seven (2016-2019, 2021-2024).

Projected Lineup
Derick Koen
Evan Owens
Jeffrey Gibbs
Brandon Blandino
Zachary Sowers
Jackson Burger
Nate Flaherty
Steven McChesney
Michael Paoletti
Spencer Buff
Benicio Benzan
Samuel Adamson
Jacob Fricano
Branden McColm - alternate

Players Mentioned

Derick Koen

First Year

Jacob Fricano

5' 9"
Senior

Derick Koen

6' 0"
Sophomore

Evan Owens

5' 6"
Sophomore

Sierra Danieu

5' 2"
Junior

Julia Gloss

5' 6"
Sophomore

Abby Nautel

5' 6"
Sophomore

Abby Thomas

5' 6"
Sophomore

Therese Georgia

5' 2"
First Year

Rachael Ladd

5' 3"
First Year

Players Mentioned

Derick Koen

First Year

Jacob Fricano

5' 9"
Senior

Derick Koen

6' 0"
Sophomore

Evan Owens

5' 6"
Sophomore

Sierra Danieu

5' 2"
Junior

Julia Gloss

5' 6"
Sophomore

Abby Nautel

5' 6"
Sophomore

Abby Thomas

5' 6"
Sophomore

Therese Georgia

5' 2"
First Year

Rachael Ladd

5' 3"
First Year