The Oswego State men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the SUNYAC Championships hosted by SUNY Fredonia this past Saturday on Oct. 27.
Both the men’s and women’s teams came in sixth place, with senior Nick LeClair leading the men’s team and freshman Emily Gustafson leading the women’s team. Both teams finished in solid places, and the women’s team got their highest finish in the SUNYAC championships. Prior to this season, the women’s team’s highest finish was in eighth place.
The race posed many challenges due to the rain causing muddy terrain.
Head coach Evan Magnussen said when approaching the race, the element of focusing on a time and pace throughout was eliminated.
“I was very frustrated because of the conditions, as every other coach was,” Magnussen said.
The unfavorable conditions added an element of difficulty to the race, according to senior Shauna Fliss of the woman’s team. Fliss blamed the conditions for some team setbacks, as much of the power and explosion from the runners impacting performance.
“It was difficult to push harder because the mud was holding us back a bit,” Fliss said.
LeClair, of the men’s team, had his best race yet and was honored to be named the male Oswego Laker Athlete of the Week. LeClair said that receiving the achievement for the first time was a confidence booster.
In addition to LeClair’s big performance, other members took the rainy conditions in stride. Freshman Emily Gustafson led the women’s team and had one word to describe her meet, according to Magnussen: phenomenal. Fliss also added to Gustafson’s performance, citing her incredible work ethic.
The team’s performance has left Magnussen hopeful and optimistic about the future of the cross country team as a whole. He commented on the team’s youth and how they finished solid at the SUNYAC Championships with a youthful squad. Magnussen said they are always willing to build on the youth they have now and that the group has a lot of potential.
After a solid outing for both the men’s and women’s teams in the SUNYAC Championships, both teams will be looking to improve and carry on that good run of form into the qualifiers for the NCAA Atlantic Regionals meet in Glassboro.
“I want to go into [Glassboro] and get one last good time and have a race that I’m proud of,” LeClair said.
Photo by Greg Tavani | The Oswegonian
