RIT Captures Fourth Consecutive Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Title
October 20, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY – Five Rochester Institute of Technology runners finished in the top-10 to lead the Tigers to their fourth consecutive Empire 8 Men's Cross Country Championship title. The meet was held in conjunction with the RPI Saratoga Cross Country Invitational at Saratoga Spa State Park.
The Tigers, ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region of the Division III regional rankings, finished with a total of 30 points, which put them 32 points ahead of runner-up Ithaca College. Junior Jared Burdick finished second overall in 25:55.84 to garner first-team all-conference honors for the third time. Junior Andrew Varble gained first-team recognition for the second year in a row with his fourth-place finish in 26:05.31.
The top seven finishers were named to the all-conference first team with the next seven finishers earning second-team honors.
Senior Brendan Epstein of Nazareth College earned Runner of the Meet accolades for finishing first in 25:36.08 over the eight-kilometer course. Mitchell Boise of Utica College was named Rookie of the Meet for being the top freshman runner, placing 17th in 27:12.81.
Ithaca, which entered this year’s championship ranked ninth in the Atlantic Region, finished second with sophomore Curt Bell leading the way with a sixth-place finish in 26:17.61.
Nazareth placed third in the team standings with senior Aaron Sirtoli (7th in 26:19.12) joining Epstein on the all-conference first team. Senior Adam Harding paced fourth-place Utica with an eighth-place finish in 26:28.23.
Senior Matthew Karczewski was the top runner for fifth-place Alfred University with his 13th-place finish in 26:49.67. Stevens Institute of Technology placed sixth in its first men's cross country conference championship. Freshman John Barnes (24th in 27:31.49) was the top finisher for the Ducks. Hartwick College was led by senior Luke Sattler.