Complete Results
Fairfield, Conn. - (Sept. 27, 2008) - After enjoying a week off, the Fordham men's and women's cross country squads returned to action in an impressive way with the men taking second and the women third at the 2008 Father Leeber S.J. Invitational in Fairfield, Conn.
Southern Connecticut State won the men's team title with a score of 27, followed by the Rams, who placed second with 61 points. Sacred Heart took third (70) followed by Wagner (118), Fairfield (158), NJIT (168), Siena (198), New Haven (209), Hartford (242), St. Francis (NY) (267) and Saint Peter's (290).
On the women's side, Sacred Heart won the team competition with a score of 35 followed by St. John's (66), Fordham (88), Fairfield (119), Siena (149), Hartford (156), Wagner (160), Saint Peter's (225), New Haven (258), NJIT (270) and St. Francis (NY) (296).
Clifton Hilario paced the Fordham men, finishing eighth overall, covering the 8K course in a time of 25:57, with Brian Riley right behind him, placing ninth with the same time. Kevin Fitzgerald was the third Fordham finisher, placing 11th (26:12) followed by Paul Szczepaniak, who placed 16th (26:27) with Tim Hartnett right behind him, taking 17th (26:31). Thomas Kelly (24th - 26:52) was the other Ram who scored in the race.
Sam Stuart (25th - 26:53), Ryan Campi (27:06), Casey Barrett (27:08), and Matt Collins (27:09) also competed for Fordham, placing 31st through 33rd, respectively. John Korevec (43rd - 27:19), Erik Lawrence (48th - 27:30) and Rich Grandelli (51st - 27:39), Tom Papain (55th - 27:45) and Tim Hutchinson (58th - 27:50) all placed in the top 60.
On the women's side, Kerri Gallagher was the top Fordham finisher, placing fourth overall in a time of 19:28.57 on the 5K course. Brigid Moriarty wasn't far behind, taking sixth in a time of 19:31.29.
Also scoring for the women were Susanne Hansen, who took 20th (20:23.16), Jacqueline Prevete, who was 22nd (20:27.87) and Bridget Carroll, who was 41st (21:03.60).
Siobhan Cooney (50th - 21:25.95), Kelsey Komich (56th - 21:44.87) and Jana Trenk (60th - 21:55.84) all placed in the top 60 for the Rams.
The Fordham men's and women's cross country teams will next be in action on Friday, October 10th, as they compete at the Metropolitan Championships at Van Cortland Park beginning at 2:00 p.m.