(Posted October 15, 2005)

University Park, Pa. ? The Juniata College men?s and women?s cross country teams took the challenge of facing off against Division I foes, and fared very well as the men placed 36th out of 37 teams and the women placed 32nd out of a 34 team field at the Penn State National Invitational Saturday afternoon.

MEN?S

The Juniata men had a number of personal bests on the day. The Eagles men saw Chris Sheaffer (Central York/York) post the top finish on the day. He crossed the line in 131st place with a stellar time of 26:41 to pace the Eagles. Mike Vellas (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) was Juniata?s second runner as he ran his best race of the season, finishing 174th overall. He covered the course in a time of 27:38. Justin Fritzius (Central York/York) had the third-best time for Juniata, running a time of 28:18 for a 215th-place finish. Eric Hoover (Brandywine/Wilmington, Del.) was Juniata?s fourth runner, pacing 233 with a time of 28:45 which was a personal best time for him. Just behind him was Shawn Rumery (Thornton Academy/Dayton, Me.) who placed 236th with a time of 28:56.
Martin Fagan of Providence was the top overall runner on the men?s side as he posted a time of 25:56.

WOMEN?S

Juniata?s women also had several strong performances. Katey Glunt (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) was Juniata?s top runner as she has been all season. The senior placed 156th overall and recorded a time of 23:50 to lead the Juniata team. Nancy Hayes (Westminster/Westminster, Md.) was the second runner for the Eagles as she recorded a time of 24:24 for a 189th-place finish. Juniata?s third finisher was Meghan Jones (Meadville/Meadville) who earned a 211th-place finish with her time of 25:12. Freshman Aubrey Cyphert (Seneca/North East) ran a personal best time and was 11 seconds behind her and finished in 214th place. Rounding out Juniata?s top-five was Sarah Bay (Central Dauphin/Harrisburg) who finished 222nd with a time of 26:22.

The top finisher in the women?s race was Shannon Rowbury of Duke who ran a time of 20:34.

Juniata will be back in action next Friday as the Eagles host their own invitational in Huntingdon.

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