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ESF Cross Country Teams Bring Home Fourth Consecutive National Titles
Men’s and women’s teams dominate in races in Pennsylvania
UNIONTOWN, PA. – Nov. 11, 2024 – For the fourth consecutive year, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) cross country teams brought home the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship titles.
ESF is the only school in United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) history to win four consecutive titles in the same sport for both women’s and men’s teams.
In the 6k women’s race, ESF won with 20 points, coming in ahead of Colorado Mountain
College, 71 points. The ESF team had six runners finish in the top 10: Margaret Ryan,
second: Bryce Hopper, third, Katie Richardson, fifth; Maura O’Brien, seventh; Tee
Atwater, eighth; and Mary Roach, 10th.
Women harriers named to the 1st team All American were Ryan, Hopper, Richardson, and O’Brien. Second team All American runners were Atwater, Roach and Heather Cecco, 14th.
In the 8k men’s race, the Mighty Oaks secured victory with 29 points, putting them 37 points ahead of second place finishers Johnson & Wales. Three ESF runners finished in the top 10: Colin Flannery, third; Korben Anderson, fourth; and Aidan Watts, seventh.
Runners named to the All American first team were Flannery, Anderson and Watts. Receiving 2nd team All American honors were Hayden Bregg, 12th; and Dan Mack, 14th.
"We entered the cross country season having lost a lot of our top runners to graduation for both the men and women including our top three men runners from last year’s nationals team,” said Coach Mike Melfi. “ Our main focus coming into the season was nationals from day one of practice. Both teams did a tremendous job staying focused all season. To win four in a row - both men and women - is not only a USCAA record but an amazing accomplishment. Both teams worked hard for this record."
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.