Cross Country Takes Little Three Championships

Both the men and women's teams from Canisius College took top honors at the annual Little Three Championships Saturday evening at Cazenovia Golf Course in Buffalo, N.Y. The Golden Griffins scored 23 points on the women's side to give the Blue and Gold its eighth title in the last 10 years, while the men's team won the event for the sixth time in the last nine attempts after the Griffs posted 20 team points.

"I am very proud of both teams," Canisius head coach Pete Osmond said. "This win today highlights all the hard physical work they have done so far this season. Equally as important, the team is much more focused and they have been doing the little things outside of practice to help create successful training competition."

In the men's race, Canisius freshman Erik van Ingen (right) completed the course in 23:45 to earn top individual honors as Canisius took six of the race's top 10 spots. Sophomore Matt Butters crossed the line in second place after navigating the track in 24:02, while teammates Chris Castleman (25:05) and Vasilis Kariolis (25:07) earned fourth and fifth place, respectively. Junior Brett Finnan crossed the line eighth overall with his time of 25:26, and senior Christian Volk posted a 10th place finish after he completed the race in 25:41.
Niagara took second in the event with 37 points after four of the Purple Eagles' five finishers placed in the top-10 as well. Colin Durina was Niagara's top male runner as he crossed the line in 24:56 for a third-place posting. St. Bonaventure placed third with 89 points. Dave Herlihy took 14th overall with his time of 26:53.

In the women's race, Niagara senior Julie Dickhans won the women's event with her time of 18:40, but the Griffs took four of the race's tops six spots to secure the team championship. Junior Alex Brown finished second with her time of 19:18, while freshman Maura Frauenhofer took third with her time of 19:23. Samantha Garnet (19:35) and Precious Peoples (20:15) took fourth and sixth place, respectively.

Niagara finished second on the women's side, led by Dickhans' fourth consecutive Little Three individual championship. The Bonnies earned 89 team points, with freshman Caitlin Palmer serving as the team's top runner after she placed seventh with her time of 20:19.
Both the Canisius men and women's teams will return to action Oct. 6, at the Disney Cross Country Championships in Orlando, Fla.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Alex Brown: 5' 7"; Junior

Chris Castleman: 5' 10"; Junior

Brett Finnan: 6' 2"; Junior

Maura Frauenhofer: 5' 3"; Freshman

Samantha Garnet: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Vasilis Kariolis: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Precious Peoples: Junior

Christian Volk: 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Alex Brown
: 5' 7"; Junior

Chris Castleman
: 5' 10"; Junior

Brett Finnan
: 6' 2"; Junior

Maura Frauenhofer
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Samantha Garnet
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Vasilis Kariolis
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Precious Peoples
: Junior

Christian Volk
: 6' 2"; Senior