EASTON, Pa. – Adriana Hooks continued her break-out sophomore campaign at Saturday's Patriot League Championship meet, pacing the American University women with a top ten finish in the field. Her ninth-place crossing (22:01.50) earned Hooks her first career All-Patriot League honor in cross country.
The women placed seventh in the team field while the men took sixth behind the leadership of sophomore Matthew Rainey.
Hooks has led the Eagles in all four of their meets this season, earning personal records in both the 5,000m (18:10.0) and 6,000m (21:58.20) throughout the fall. Rounding out the top five scorers on the women's side was freshman Arianna Lopez (28th, 22:40.30), senior Corina Velazco (48th, 23:12.80), sophomore Kassidy Ayres (53rd, 23:22.40), and junior Brianna Belo (59th, 23:33.20).
The women's team field was led by Bucknell, who scored 23 points en route to their second consecutive league title. They were followed by Lehigh, Holy Cross, Navy, Army West Point and Boston U. Loyola Maryland, Lafayette and Colgate closed out the team results.
The Eagle men were also led by a break-out sophomore performer, as Matt Rainey led the red, white and blue for the second time this season. Rainey entered the weekend after pacing the men two weeks ago at the Princeton Invitational and took charge once again with a 26th place overall finish (25:47.20) at the league championship.
Navy earned their fourth consecutive PL title with a 23-point posting. They were followed by Army West Point, Boston U., Lehigh and Bucknell. Holy Cross, Colgate, Loyola Maryland and Lafayette rounded out the men's team finishers.
AU will have a weekend off before returning to the line on Friday, Nov. 11, for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships hosted by Penn State in State College, Pa. There, the Eagles will once again with PL cohorts Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland and Navy in the pursuit of NCAA Championship qualification.
For the latest on your Eagles, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter @AU_TrackXC.
HEAR FROM COACH CENTROWITZ…
"All in all, considering the long season and the illnesses and injuries, we came around at the end. I'm happy with how well the kids competed with all the variables. The experience we gained today was valuable and will help our young team in the future. Today was an outstanding accomplishment for
Adriana Hooks, coming in ninth as a sophomore. I was also impressed with
Matthew Rainey, whose expertise is the half-mile on the track. He fought his way through the entire race and finished well."
#AUXC RESULTS - WOMEN (6k)
Team - Seventh, 172 points
9. Adriana Hooks, 22:01.50
28. Arianna Lopez, 22:40.30
48. Corina Velazco, 23:12.80
53. Kassidy Ayres, 23:22.40
59. Brianna Belo, 23:33.20
60. Kaitlyn McTernan, 23:34.30
79. Kailee Traficante, 24:21.20
TEAM FINISHES – WOMEN
1. Bucknell, 23 points
2. Lehigh, 75 points
3. Holy Cross, 78 points
4. Navy, 122 points
5. Army West Point, 124 points
6. Boston U., 166 points
7. American, 172 points
8. Loyola (Md.), 205 points
9. Lafayette, 260 points
10. Colgate, 303 points
#AUXC RESULTS – MEN (8k)
Team – Sixth, 182 points
26. Matthew Rainey, 25:47.20
35. Alaeldin Tirba, 26:01.60
44. Ben Doiron, 26:23.40
56. Tommy Sommer, 26:55.80
66. Liam Purdy, 27:22.20
86. Gerard D'Ambrosio, 28:37.50
TEAM FINISHES – MEN
1. Navy, 23 points
2. Army West Point, 79 points
3. Boston U., 83 points
4. Lehigh, 86 points
5. Bucknell, 87 points
6. American, 182 points
7. Holy Cross, 226 points
8. Colgate, 251 points
9. Loyola (Md.), 267 points
10. Lafayette, 284 points
