CU Cross Country Preview - at Yellowjacket Invitational

Cross Country | 9/15/2023 7:00:00 AM

Only one race into the season, the Clarkson University Cross Country team will challenge itself this weekend on two fronts: the first full-length races of the season and a field roughly the size of the NCAA Regionals.

Twenty-plus teams will compete at the Yellowjacket Invitational, including teams at both the Division I and Division III levels. Running alongside members of the Golden Knights' squad will be teams from Alfred State, University of Buffalo, Buffalo State, SUNY Cobleskill, Colgate, Cornell, SUNY ESF, SUNY Geneseo, Hamilton, Hartwick, Hobart, Ithaca, Keuka, LeMoyne, Muskingum, Oberlin, Oneonta State, SUNY Potsdam, RIT, host University of Rochester, St. John Fisher, and William Smith.

The Course

The Team: Both of last year's Yellowjacket Invitational fields mirrored some of the larger regional events of a few years ago when 40 teams would collect for spots at the NCAA Championships. Though the regional events restrict the number of runners per team, that will not be the case in Rochester, as Clarkson's full teams will compete. Another challenge will be the adjustment in course length for the student-athletes, as Clarkson's men will compete in an 8,000-meter event and the women will run a 6,000-meter race. Freshman Drew Reigelsperger had the top time a few weeks ago in Plattsburgh, running the short course in 16 minutes, 40 seconds. Classmate Anthony Fiacco was only 13.7 seconds behind, and junior Tyler Nickels was less than 30 seconds behind Reigelsperger. On the women's side, Gianna Capoccia completed Plattsburgh's course in 20:40.6, while first-year collegians Skylar Francis and Kelly Lahiff were second and third for the Golden Knights in 23:20.7 and 23:28.8, respectively.

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Players Mentioned

Gianna Capoccia: Sophomore

Tyler Nickels: Sophomore

Anthony Fiacco: Freshman

Drew Reigelsperger: Freshman

Skylar Francis: Freshman

Kelly Lahiff: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gianna Capoccia
: Sophomore

Tyler Nickels
: Sophomore

Anthony Fiacco
: Freshman

Drew Reigelsperger
: Freshman

Skylar Francis
: Freshman

Kelly Lahiff
: Freshman