Men's Cross Country 10/29/2016 6:30:00 PM

Men's cross country takes third straight Landmark crown

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Elizabethtown College men's cross country team took full advantage of the weather conditions Saturday at the 2016 Landmark Championships hosted by Moravian College. The Blue Jays placed four inside the top ten and cruised to a third straight Landmark crown.

All five Elizabethtown scorers ran season-best 8,000-meter times, led by senior Keegan McDonough. Already a two-time all-conference performer, McDonough ran 26:03.23 and finished as the runner-up to Juniata's Conor Dimond.

Samuel Gerstenbacher ran his best 8k of the season and timed it well for the championship race. The first-year runner came in fourth in 26:18.34, 32 seconds faster than his previous top 8k on the season. Along with being a First Team performer, he was also the top freshman, earning him Rookie of the Year honors.

Andrew Lesko ran to his best championship finish with a fifth-place run in 26:30.23, a season-best. The senior, a two-time All-Landmark Second Team performer the previous two seasons, finished inside the top team at a league meet for the first time in his career.

Along with a season-best time of 26:38.32, Tom Fitzgerald also set a new personal record for the distance on Moravian's course. Fitzgerald was eighth to earn All-Landmark Second Team, his first cross country all-conference honor.

Ryan Rippeon, another freshman runner for Elizabethtown, rounded out the top five for the Jays in 12th, good for All-Landmark Second Team. Rippeon ran 26:51.38 in the race.

Nate Liebsch didn't factor into the scoring for E-town, but he made it six runners in the top 14 for the Blue Jays. His 14th-place finish at 27:05.88 earned the senior his first all-conference nod with a spot on the Second Team.

Elizabethtown cleared Juniata (47 points) by 16 points for the win. Scranton claimed third.

The men's cross country team will prepare for the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional on Saturday, November 12.

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Players Mentioned

Tommy Fitzgerald: 6' 2"; Junior

Andrew Lesko: 6' 2"; Senior

Nate Liebsch: 5' 9"; Senior

Keegan McDonough: 5' 11"; Senior

Samuel Gerstenbacher: 5' 11"; Freshman

Ryan Rippeon: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Tommy Fitzgerald
: 6' 2"; Junior

Andrew Lesko
: 6' 2"; Senior

Nate Liebsch
: 5' 9"; Senior

Keegan McDonough
: 5' 11"; Senior

Samuel Gerstenbacher
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Ryan Rippeon
: Freshman