Lycoming News

Competing in the United East Conference Cross-Country Championships on Saturday, the Penn College men's team secured sixth place while the Wildcat women's team finished fifth among seven teams. Alec Rees led the men's team by finishing 17th, and Cinnamon Digan was the top performer for the women, placing 18th.

For Penn College's men's team, Rees completed an 8K course with a time of 30:41.60. Dean Fulton followed in 20th place with a time of 31:05. Other participants included Nick Snow (28th), Noah Bowers (33rd), Will Deem (42nd), AJ Wiles (46th), Chad Bomboy (51st), and William Roever (57th). On the women's side, Digan clocked a time of 29:39.1 over a 6K course. Taylor Schon came in 21st, Avery Baker was 24th, and both Aubrey Stetts and Kayleigh Miller tied for 39th.

St. Mary's College of Maryland, new to the conference this year, claimed both team titles with their men scoring 33 points and women earning 28 points. Payton Jones from Morrisville State College won the men's individual title in a field of 63 runners with a time of 27:40.50, while Madeleine Blaisdell from St. Mary's triumphed in the women's race at 24:25.

In men's competition behind St. Mary's were Penn State Harrisburg with 70 points, Morrisville State College with 80 points, Lancaster Bible College at 85 points, Penn State Berks with102 points, Penn College at127 points and Gallaudet University concluding at218 points.In women's standings after St.Mary's,PennStateHarrisburgsecured82points,MorrisvilleStateCollege87,LancasterBibleCollege99,PennCollege119,PennStateBerks133,andGallaudetUniversity156.

Coach Nick Patton commented on the season's challenges stating,"Without a doubt,this season was the toughest one we've had since I have been head coach." He praised his teams' efforts saying,"We battled in both races and left it out on the course."

Penn College is set to compete next at the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional in Carlisle on November13.