ALFRED, NY – Following a season of progression, the Alfred University cross country teams are looking forward to fall competition. Both the men's and women's roster will welcome a variety of returning student-athletes and first-year runners.
The Saxons are led by Head Coach
Matt Phillips, who is entering his fifth year as the head coach of the program.
"Both the men and women did a great job last season," Phillips said. "The women had multiple runners finish with All-Empire 8 honors. The men continued to grow as the season went on, which showed at the Empire 8 Championships."
Last season, Alfred University competed at Houghton University, Penn State Behrend, and SUNY Geneseo before appearing at the Empire 8 Championships. The Saxons later competed in the NCAA Atlantic Regionals at the University of Rochester.
For the men,
Max Rasilla (Moraga, CA/Midland) finished with the top time at the 2022 Empire 8 Championships with a time of 29:17.30.
Yuner Sesmas (Apollo, PA/Kiski Area) is additionally a top returner for AU following a successful sophomore season. Prior to the beginning of the 2023 season, the Saxons named
Kevin Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) as a team captain.
"Our men did a great job staying patient in the early portion of the 2022 season," Phillips said. "They did a great job last season and we're excited for what the new season will bring for our roster."
The women enjoyed an impressive 2022 season, with
McKenzie Hall (Hornell, NY/Hornell) and
Mari Jablonski (Monticello, GA/Jasper County) receiving All-Empire 8 recognition. Hall finished in 10th place during the 2022 Empire 8 Championships with a time of 24:08.20. Jablonski received Third Team honors with a time of 24:47.80 for Alfred University. The team will also welcome back
Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs), who was previously named as the program's Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year and enters the fall as a team captain.
"Similarly, to the men, the women did a great job at being patient early last season and the results from the Empire 8 Championships showed that," Phillips said. "We're excited to have a good returning group, along with a talented class of first-year talents."
"We're very fortunate to be able to utilize our surrounding resources as way to prepare for competition," Phillips said. "Between Jericho Hill, Foster Lake, and the vision for the Saxon Complex Hill, we're excited about the direction the program is heading towards."
Alfred University will open fall competition at Houghton University on September 1. The Saxons will later appear at the Empire 8 Championships, which are scheduled to take place on October 28 at Nazareth University. The NCAA Atlantic Regionals will be hosted by Houghton University on November 11, with the NCAA Nationals taking place on November 18 at Dickinson College.
