Three Griffs Earn All-MAAC Honors at Cross Country Championships

The Canisius men's and women's cross country teams competed in the 2021 MAAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

In the men's 8K race, junior Tom Appenheimer paced Canisius, crossing the line with a time of 25:15 to claim 11th place and earn All-MAAC accolades for a second consecutive season. Senior Michael Peppy finished two spots behind Appenheimer, turning in a time of 25:24.5 to place 13th and also earn All-MAAC recognition. Graduate student Turner Dirrigl (26:09.8) finished 42nd while Andrew Perreault (26:37.2) was 56th.

As a team, the Golden Griffin men placed sixth with a team total of 149, 32 points ahead of seventh-place Marist (181). Iona claimed its 31st consecutive MAAC Men's Cross Country team title, finishing with a total of 17 points. Monmouth took second with a team total of 78 points while Siena finished third with 89.

Senior Libby Benzer led the way for the Canisius women, finishing the 6K race in 14th place with a time of 21:56.3 to earn All-MAAC honors for the first time in her career. Junior Marissa Silba took 40th (23:08.2) while fellow junior Olivia Moran was 55th (23:35.9).

The Golden Griffin women finished seventh, posting a team total of 204 points, two in front of eighth-place Fairfield (206). Iona also captured the women's team title, finishing with a total of 36 points, to win its sixth consecutive league crown. Siena took second with a team total of 61 while Quinnipiac finished third with 84 points.

Men's Results – 6th (149 Points)
Tom Appenheimer – 25:15.1 (11th)
Michael Peppy – 25:24.5 (13th)
Turner Dirrigl – 26:09.8 (42nd)
Andrew Perreault – 26:37.2 (56th)
Richard Moore –26:57.4 (71st)
Thomson Chew – 27:16.8 (83rd)
Ronan McDonald – 27:18.3 (85th)
Royce Breslawski – 27:34.3 (95th)
Collin Rice – 28:04.5 (105th)
Kevin Board – 28:14.7 (109th)
Patrick Garland – 28:21.3 (110th)
Walid Bibi – 28:55.0 (118th)
Jacob Raichell – 29:01.4 (120th)
Nick Dauphinee – 29:09.0 (124th)

Women's Results – 7th (204 Points)
Libby Benzer – 21:56.3 (14th)
Marissa Silba – 23:08.2 (40th)
Olivia Moran – 23:35.9 (55th)
Chloe Breen – 23:55.9 (65th)
Taylor Heschke – 24:01.4 (72nd)
Jules Jones – 24:24.6 (77th)
Leah Wardner – 24:34.5 (84th)
Bailey Pierce – 24:38.7 (87th)
Rylee Campeau – 24:43.7 (90th)
Elizabeth Conforti – 25:01.5 (100th)
Heather Bugenhagen – 25:05.2 (101th)
Madison Serapilio – 25:15.6 (106th)
Maddy Vanderlip – 25:39.2 (111th)
Sarah Pawlow – 25:48.0 (113th)
Brynne Ketchum – 26:20.9 (117th)

Head Coach Nate Huckle's Postrace Comments
"I'm proud of what our programs were able to accomplish today. They handled the travel and excitement associated with a Disney MAAC Championship very well and never lost sight of what we were here to accomplish. From our front runners through our scoring pack, they committed to our race strategy and believed in each other. As a coach, I can't ask for more than that. They were smart, but aggressive, and it paid off with three All-MAAC performances and our best team effort of the year."

Up Next
Canisius continues the 2021 season at the NCAA Northeast Regionals. The race, scheduled for Nov. 12, will be held in Boston.

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Players Mentioned

Tom Appenheimer: 5' 9"; Junior

Libby Benzer: 5' 11"; Senior

Walid Bibi: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Kevin Board: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Royce Breslawski: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Heather Bugenhagen: 5' 4"; Junior

Rylee Campeau: 5' 1"; Junior

Max Chew: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Nick Dauphinee: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Turner Dirrigl: 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Tom Appenheimer
: 5' 9"; Junior

Libby Benzer
: 5' 11"; Senior

Walid Bibi
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Kevin Board
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Royce Breslawski
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Heather Bugenhagen
: 5' 4"; Junior

Rylee Campeau
: 5' 1"; Junior

Max Chew
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Nick Dauphinee
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Turner Dirrigl
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student