(Posted November 11, 2006)

WAYNESBURG, Pa. - The Juniata College men\'s and women\'s cross country teams completed the 2006 season with a pair of strong efforts as each team finished among the top half of a huge field at the NCAA Mid-East Regionals in Waynesburg Saturday afternoon. The Juniata women placed 13th out of 41 teams on the day, while the men\'s squad ran to a 17th-place team finish out of 39 teams. The Juniata men finished the race with 494 points, edging out the 18th-place team to earn the 17th-place team finish. Freshman Matthew Bailey (Hempfield/East Petersburg) led the Juniata men with a top-60 finish in his first regional as he placed 58th with a time of 28:10. Eric Hoover (Brandywine/Wilmington, Del.) was the second Eagle to cross the finish line, and he did so in 83rd position with a time of 28:41. Sam Williams (Central Roaring Spring) continued his strong late-season running as he just missed a spot in the top 100 by placing 104th and running a time of 29:11. Jason Hoover (Brandywine/Wilmington, Del.) was 119th in the event and covered the course in 29:23. Rounding out Juniata\'s top-five was Mike Chirdon (Riverview/Verona) who was 130th and crossed the line in 29:31. Haverford College claimed the team championship on the men\'s side and Macharia Yuot of Widener University was the overall winner in the men\'s race. Juniata\'s women posted 413 points to place 13th in the contest, putting them just five spots out of the 12th spot. Senior Elena Amata (Notre Dame Prep./Baltimore, Md.) was Juniata\'s top finisher as she earned a spot in the top-25 with a 23rd-place finish. Second for the Eagles was Meghan Jones (Meadville/Meadville) who ran a time of 25:43 which was good for a 60th-place finish. Juniata\'s third runner was Lia Bella (Morris Catholic/Rockaway, N.J.) who placed 84th with a time of 26:18. Laura Rupprecth (Brunswick/Jefferson, Md.) enjoyed one of her best efforts of the season as she was the Eagles\' fourth runner and placed 119th with a time of 26:59. Aubrey Cyphert (Seneca/North East) rounded out Juniata\'s top-five by placing 127th with a time of 27:05. Dickinson College earned the regional title on the women\'s side and Caitlin Bradley of Dickinson was the overall winner. ###

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