MAAC Cross Country Championships Program
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – After a one-year absence, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Cross Country Championships return to Van Cortlandt Park on Friday afternoon. The 6000-meter women's race begins at 12 p.m., followed by the 8000-meter men's race at 12:45 p.m.
“I think it is an advantage,” Manhattan College Head Coach Pat Slevin said about the meet's return to Riverdale. “We're there (Van Cortlandt Park) every day, and our teams really look at this as our home course.”
Leading the men's team into the conference meet is Mikael Rojeras (Sala, Sweden), who has been the Jaspers' top finisher in every race this season and twice earned MAAC Performer of the Week honors. Lukas Bittigkoffer (Neulingen, Germany) has also had a strong season, running second behind Rojeras in each of the three meets he's entered. Manhattan can also bank on solid performances from a talented group that includes Kevin O'Brien (Attleboro, Mass.), Greg Perrier (Dix Hills, N.Y.), Salim Corbin (Patterson, N.J.) and Anthony Colasurdo (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.). The Jaspers finished seventh as a team at the 2012 MAAC Championships.
On the women's side, Manhattan will be looking to rebound after a disappointing eighth-place finish last year. The Jaspers have been led by both Milena Stoicev (Nis, Serbia) and Alexandra Cappello (Scarsdale, N.Y.) this season. Katie Saroka (Blue Point, N.Y.) has looked strong in recent workouts and could challenge for a top spot, while Alyssa Windle (Redlands, Calif.) was Manhattan's highest finisher at last season's MAAC Championships, when she placed 38th. Janie Turek (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) and Elizabeth Rosenberger (Ramsey, N.J.) have also consistently been among the Jaspers' top five this season.
“My expectations are to finish a little higher than we did last year,” Slevin said. “We're a year older, and I think a year better. Ideally, I would think the men's and women's teams could both be in the top five.”
Iona is the defending champions on both the men's and women's side. The Gael men, who are ranked eighth nationally, have won 22 straight MAAC titles, while Iona's women's team is looking for its ninth consecutive conference championship.
