CU Cross Country Preview - at Hamilton Invitational (10/7)

Tommy Szarka

Cross Country | 10/6/2023 7:30:00 AM

This weekend's race in Clinton, NY marks the final regular-season event until the Clarkson University Cross Country team enters its championship run at the CCOC, Liberty League, and NCAA Regional, as the Golden Knights will compete in the Hamilton Invitational for the third straight year.

The Course/Race: Hamilton's track is 8,000 meters for the men, and the women's course can be measured at both 5,000 meter and 6,000 meters, though the past two years the course was limited to a 5K for the women. Joining Clarkson and host Hamilton in the field are Clinton Community College, Colgate, SUNY Cortland, Hartwick College, LeMoyne, Morrisville State, Onondaga Community College, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Poly, Tompkins Community College, and Utica College.

The Men: Most of Clarkson's male runners have posted fairly consistent times in their two 8K races this year. Junior Tyler Nickels has the fastest average at 27 minutes, 35 seconds and a year ago he finished the Hamilton course in 27:54.6. Drew Reigelsperger is averaging 27:48 in 2023, while Anthony Fiacco (28:45) and Andrew Wade (28:54) have also posted sub-29 minute averages. Wade ran Hamilton's course in 28:03.5 in 2022.

The Women: After sitting out the race in Canton, Gianna Capoccia will have one more race leading up to the championship slate down the stretch. Capoccia finished the 2021 run in 24:36.6, but her lone 5K race this year had her below 21 minutes. In her only 6K run of the season, Capoccia finished in 25:25.6. Freshman Skylar Francis has averaged 27:55 in 6K events this year, while Kelly Lahiff has averaged 29:13 over that same distance, as each looks to produce solid times on the shorter course.

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Players Mentioned

Gianna Capoccia: Sophomore

Tyler Nickels: Sophomore

Andrew Wade: Freshman

Anthony Fiacco: Freshman

Drew Reigelsperger: Freshman

Skylar Francis: Freshman

Kelly Lahiff: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gianna Capoccia
: Sophomore

Tyler Nickels
: Sophomore

Andrew Wade
: Freshman

Anthony Fiacco
: Freshman

Drew Reigelsperger
: Freshman

Skylar Francis
: Freshman

Kelly Lahiff
: Freshman