GNAC Cross Country Report: Week 1

(FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 31-SEPT. 2)

MEN'S RUNNER OF THE WEEK

Peter Bakker, Colby-Sawyer (Jr. - Barkhamsted, Conn.)

Bakker led the Colby-Sawyer men to a second place finish at the inaugural Charger Invitational 5k held at the newly dedicated Morris Trail. He finished third overall with a time of 16:27.40 to pace the Chargers. 

WOMEN'S RUNNER OF THE WEEK

Emma Weisse, Suffolk (Jr. - Hampden, Mass.)

Weisse was the top finisher at the Suffolk Duels with a time of 11:07 in the 3K race. 

MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Zachary Bergeron, Norwich University (Fr. - Blackstone, Mass.)

Bergeron helped lead Norwich to the team title at the Plattsburgh State Invitational as the No. 6-man for the three-time defending GNAC conference champions in his collegiate debut. He placed 11th overall and ran a 17:28.

WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Ashleigh Kelly, Regis (Mass.) (Fr. - Stoneham, Mass.)

In her first career collegiate event, Ashleigh Kelly finished in the top half of the field, crossing the finish line in 20th place in the Wellesley Invitational in 20:58.7 in the 5K race. She showed a strong finishing kick, holding off her nearest competitor by just a half-second. Kelly was Regis' second finisher in the event. 


WEEK 1 HONOR ROLL

Hannah Giesing, Colby-Sawyer (Fr., Newbury, Vt.) - In her collegiate debut, Giesing paced the Colby-Sawyer women's cross country team with a fourth place finish in the inaugural Charger Invitational 5k at the Morris Trail. She clocked in at 21:17.10. 
 
Carisa Dekalb, Norwich University (Sr., San Diego, Calif.) - Dekalb led the Norwich women to a second place finish at the Plattsburgh State Invitational by finishing 2nd overall in a personal-best time of 20:19.77 over the 5K course. Dekalb topped her previous best 5K time by 15 seconds. 
 
Adam Saucier, Norwich University (Jr., Massena, N.Y.) - Saucier led Norwich to a season-opening team victory at the Plattsburgh State Invitational on Saturday. He placed second overall and was the first Norwich runner across the line with a time of 16:47 over the 5K course. 
 
Nicholas Sahagian, Regis (Mass.) (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) - Nicholas Sahagian showed significant improvement as the 2018 cross country season began for the Pride at the Wellesley Invitational. Sahagian finished in seventh place with a time of 17:56.3, 1:32.3 quicker than his mark at the same event last year.
 
Troy Hendricks, Saint Joseph's College (ME) (Fr., Hiram, Maine) - Hendricks opened his NCAA career with a solid performance, placing fourth overall with a 17:52 time in the SJC Early Bird 5K race on Saturday. He was the top finisher for the Monks, who placed second behind University of New England.
 
Matyas Csiki-Fejer, Suffolk (Fr., St. Louis, Mo.) - Finished first at the Suffolk Duels with a 17:35 time in the 5K race.
 
Skyler Sapnbauer, Suffolk (Fr., Guilderland, N.Y.) - Finished second overall at the Suffolk Duels with a time of 12:52 in the 3K race. 

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

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