Juniata cross country teams wrap up 2008 at NCAA Regional

WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- The Juniata College men’s and women’s cross country teams concluded their 2008 seasons on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship, at the Greene County Airport in Waynesburg, Pa.  
 
The men finished in 13th place, the third-highest finish ever for the Juniata men at the regional championship. Previously, they finished 10th in 2005 and 12th last year.

Junior Matt Bailey (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) led the Eagles with a 71st-place finish, with a time of 27:15 over the rain soaked 8 km course.

Freshman Ceth Parker (Sabillasville, Md./Catoctin) finished 74th overall with a time of 27:17. He was 14th among all freshmen in the event, and was named to the Second Team Freshman All-Region squad.

Junior Sam Williams (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central) was close behind in 81st place with a time of 27:21.  Freshman Nik Klena (Franklin, Pa./Oil City) finished in 100th place with a time of 27:40 in his first regional championship. Senior Tripp Rudolph (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) rounded out the Juniata scorers, finishing in 116th place with at time of 27:59 at his third and final appearance in the regional meet.

Sophomores Kenny Goodfellow (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) and Steve Schmitt (New Providence, Pa./Solanco) finished in 159th and 166th, respectively, as the final two runners for Juniata.

The Juniata women also finished in 13th, matching their fifth-highest finish ever. They also finished 13th two years ago, the last time the regional meet was hosted at Waynesburg.

Junior Laura Rupprecht (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) led the team for the sixth consecutive time as she finished 69th with a time of 24:37.

Freshman Jess Koenig (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) was the second woman across the finish line for Juniata in 71st place with a time of 24:40.  She was the only Juniata athlete to run a personal best time. Koenig also earned Second Team Freshman All-Region honors, as she was the 13th-best freshman competitor in the event.

In her third appearance at the regional meet, senior Aubrey Cyphert (North East, Pa./Seneca) finished in 80th place with a time of 24:48. Fellow senior Meghan Jones (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) made her fourth appearance at the regional championship, finishing 115th place with a time of 25:22.

Freshman Danielle Brooks (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg) took 136th place with a time of 25:41 in her first regional championship.

Junior Megan Peterson (Canton, Pa./Canton) and sophomore Megan McQuillan (Severna Park, Md./Seton Keough) finished 174th and 186th, respectively, as the final two finishers for Juniata.

NCAA Division III Mideast Regional (Waynesburg, Pa.)
Juniata Men’s Finishers

71. Matthew Bailey, Jr.,  27:15
74. Ceth Parker, Fr., 27:17
81. Samuel Williams, Jr., 27:21
100. Nikolai Klena, Fr., 27:40
116. Richard Rudolph, Sr., 27:59
159. Kenneth Goodfellow, So., 28:36
166. Steven Schmitt, So., 28:40

NCAA Division III Mideast Regional (Waynesburg, Pa.)
Juniata Women’s Finishers

69. Laura Rupprecht, Jr., 24:37
71. Jessica Koenig, Fr., 24:40
80. Aubrey Cyphert, Sr., 24:48
115. Meghan Jones, Sr., 25:22
136. Danielle Brooks, Fr., 25:41
174. Megan Peterson, Jr., 26:26
186. Megan McQuillan, So., 26:42