Brandywine, Schuylkill Top Pack at PSUAC Cross Country Invitational
Story courtesy of Sara Rinkunas, Penn State Scranton athletics.
DUNMORE, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Brandywine raced their way to the top this Saturday at the PSUAC Invitational hosted by Penn State Scranton. The women from Brandywine earned the team title with a score of 26 while the men from Schuylkill earned top honors with a score of 28.
Penn State Fayette senior standout Chloe Kalp retained her top spot in the women’s ranks, placing first overall, running the challenging 6k course in 25:58.8, over 90 seconds ahead of the next finisher and setting a new course record. Newcomer Jenaya Smith finished first for Brandywine and third overall medaling with a time of 30:05.1, leading the team to victory over Schuylkill, last year’s invitational team champions. Penn State DuBois placed two in the top five with first year runners Rebecca Martin finishing second (27:37.4) and Hailey Theuret finishing fourth (30:28.3). Schuylkill’s returning third year runner Malak Mawafi rounded out the medalists, finishing fifth with a time of 31:31.
The men’s field was dominated by Penn State Schuylkill, placing three in the top five with returning runners Pacal Deppisch finishing first overall covering the 8k course in 28:27.8 and Matthew O close behind, finishing second in 28:33.1. Newcomer Ashton Owens placed fourth, rounding out the team leaders for Schuylkill, finishing with a time of 29.40.1. Scranton second-year All-American Mason Natalini placed third, completing his home course in 29.37.1 and Penn State DuBois newcomer Nick Hayes rounded out the medalists in fifth place (29.57.4).
Penn State Schuylkill is set to compete in the NAIA Continental Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS while the remainder of the PSUAC Cross Country teams look toward USCAA National Championships on November 12, hosted by Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, PA.
Final Women's Team Standings
| 1 | Penn State Brandywine | 28 points |
| 2 | Penn State Schuylkill | 30 points |
Final Men’s Team Standings
| 1 | Penn State Schuylkill | 26 points |
| 2 | Penn State Scranton | 43 points |
| 3 | Penn State Brandywine | 74 points |
| 4 | Penn State DuBois | 82 points |