Jaspers Continue Solid Season at UAlbany Invitational

ALBANY, NY – The Manhattan College men's and women's cross country teams returned to action at the UAlbany Invitational on Saturday.  For most of the Jaspers, this was their first time this season racing somewhere other than Van Cortlandt Park, and they let the success they've found on their home course carry over into Saturday's race.  Amir Khaghani (Bethesda, MD) was third overall, as the men finished second in the team standings.  The women, meanwhile, placed third as a team.

Khaghani posted a time of 25:11.7 for 8000 meters to lead the Jaspers for the second consecutive week.  Jan Hoffmann (Tubeingen, Germany) also had a top-10 showing.  He placed eighth overall in 25:34.6.  John Dove (Monroe, NY) (25:39.5) and Chris Orlando (Newburyport, MA) (25:41.8) ended up 11^th and 12^th, respectively, while Christian McLaughlin (Allenhurst, NJ) was 21^st in 26:07.3.    Rounding out Manhattan's top seven finishers were Chad Maier (Melville, NY) (24^th, 26:15.1) and Drew Reda (Matawan, NJ) (34^th, 26:41.8).

Manhattan earned 55 points to edge Siena (59) for second place in the team standings.  Khaghani was the only non-Albany runner in the top six, as the host Great Danes captured the team title with 18 points.

On the women's side, Manhattan placed third as a team with 77 points.  Albany took first with 62 points, just ahead of Siena (65).

Caroline Ferri (Garden City, NY) was the top finisher for the Jasper women.  She completed the 5000-meter course in 18:11.2 to secure seventh place overall.  Kelly Gorman (South Amboy, NJ) was 13^th in 18:32.3, and she was followed closely by Alexa Roda (Staten Island, NY) in 14^th (18:33.1).  Kaitlyn Smith (Effort, PA) placed 20^th in 18:38.8, while Lisa Fajardo (Brooklyn, NY) took 23^rd in 18:44.6.  Sam Hoagland (Colts Neck, NJ) ended up 32^nd in 19:13.8, and Erin Spadaccini's (Wilmington, DE) time of 19:23.4 was good for 37^th place.