Ramsey, Saints win 2009 NYSCTC Championships

by: 

University of Rochester

The Saints won the 2009 NYSCTC Championship on Saturday.

Oct. 24: The nationally-ranked St. Lawrence University men's cross country team won the 2009 NYSCTC Championship on Saturday at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester, NY.  The Saints won the title with 28 combined points and were led by junior Dan Ramsey, who won the individual crown behind a time of 25:35.

St. Lawrence, which finished as the runner up in last year's state championship, defeated the host school and defending champions Rochester, who took second with 51 points.

"Our upperclassmen really stepped up today, as (Dan) Ramsey and (Jeremy) Mwenda ran a very strong race to lead the team but also set a quick pace for the entire field," said St. Lawrence head coach John Newman.  "We are really motivated going into the last few weeks of the season, and today's team title was definitely one of our team's goals." 

Ramsey entered Saturday's 8k race with a career-best showing of 13^th in the NYSCTC event, but promptly changed that stat with the victory.  He was followed by junior teammate Jeremy Mwenda, who took second overall with a time of 25:39.

With the junior setting the tone, a trio of St. Lawrence seniors scored to anchor the team to the state title.  Jacob Malcomb took 6^th in the event in 26:25 and was followed by classmates Jeremy Beaudette (26:41) and Terrence Fox (26:45), who earned 9^th and 10^th place, respectively.

Also representing the Scarlet and Brown in Saturday's race were sophomore John Johnston (15^th, 26:59), senior Geoff Millard (16^th, 27:05), sophomore Andrew Goodwin (20^th, 27:18), first-year student Sam Rakoc (21^st, 27:19), senior Todd Lavigne (22^nd, 27:21) and junior Josh LeBlanc.

The Saints, ranked 14th in the national rankings, will be in action again next Saturday, October 31 at the 2009 Saratoga Invitational at 12:00pm.