Landmark Championships (Towson, MD) -- In less than ideal conditions, the Crusaders laid claim to the inaugural Landmark Conference Cross-Country Championship on Saturday. Rain on Friday and Saturday left the hilly course water-soaked and muddy. Racing aggressively from the start and using a very strong pack with a solid front runner, the men won a close battle with Juniata College, 52-53. It is Susquehanna's first cross-country team championship since 1984.
Leading the way for the Crusaders was Paul Thistle (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon), winning the Landmark Conference Individual Championship. His time 27:37 was 20 seconds better than second place and set a new course record. Thistle executed the race plan perfectly to become the first Crusader to win a cross-country individual championship since Greg Pealer in 1984. For his first place finish, Thistle was also named the first Landmark Conference Runner of the Year.
Landmark Championships (Towson, MD) -- The Crusader women ran very strong at the inaugural Landmark Cross-Country Championships. The women placed fourth out of eight schools on the rain-soaked and muddy course.
Leading the way for the Crusaders in first place overall was Alycia Woodruff (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East), who covered the 6K course in a time of 24:27. Her time in the tough conditions was good enough to set a new course record. Woodruff ran a smart race, following the plan of staying near the front and waiting for the last 1,000 meters to pull away from the field.
Her individual championship is the first conference championship in the history of Susquehanna women's cross-country. For her first place finish, Woodruff was honored as the first Landmark Conference Women's Cross-Country Runner of the Year