Stong Showing
The Castleton men’s cross country team finished third and the women’s team took fourth place at the North Atlantic Conference cross country championships on Sunday at Thomas College in Maine.
Mariah Eilers was the top finisher for the women’s squad finishing in fifth place overall with a time of 21:27, putting her on the NAC first team all-conference.
Isaac French was the top runner for the men’s team grabbing eighth place with a time of 29:15 making the NAC first team all-conference along with Eilers.
“The race went well. We were seeded fifth and finished in third,” French said. “Our conference was so strong this year and we came within five points of taking second place so we are happy with our performance.”
For the women’s team, the next runner in after Eilers was freshman Kelsey Thompson who took 17th place with a time of 22:47. McKynze Works came in soon after with a time of 23:22 placing 24th overall. Coming in fourth for the Spartans was Margaret Kuchinski taking 29th place with a time of 23:37 and Caitlin Ryan rounded out the top five with her first top five finish of the season placing 31st with a time of 23:42.
“It was a cold and hilly race,” Eilers said. “When it came down to it though we all had a great race and the hard work we put in all year paid off.”
On the men’s side, Steve Hagemann was the next Castleton runner in, after French, coming in 13th overall, good enough to make NAC second team all-conference, with a time of 30:11. Coming in third for the Spartans was Jonah Lavigne, who came in 16th with a time of 30:36. Matt Woodward took fourth for the Spartans, finishing 21st overall with a time of 31:09.
Nick Tubolino rounded out the top five for Castleton with a 27th place finish overall running a 31:47. George Forbes also had a tremendous race finishing 6th on the team and 30th overall with a time of 32:01.
“We felt confident coming in to the race,” French said. “With the performance we put on, we definitely feel confident again going into the ECAC championships. We have been running really strong.”