CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu or 518-629-7898/518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021

Shazim Named All-American; Cross Country Competes at Nationals

The Hudson Valley Community College men's and women's cross country program saw its season come to a close today as they traveled to compete in the 2021 NJCAA Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships. 

The men's team started the day off with the running of the 8,000-meter championship course. Hudson Valley had two runners place inside the top-25 and were led by top runner, Shazim Permaul, who was named a NJCAA All-American with his fourth-place finish in the individual standings with a final time of 26:33. Garrick Smith-Growick placed 22^nd with an official time of 28:15. 

Eric Zumpe was the third Vikings runner to cross the finish line as he placed 45^th with a time of 29:29. Trevor Dzikowicz and Jakob Quail rounds out the Vikings team scoring as they placed 66^th and 70^th, respectively.  Dzikowicz improved crossed the finish line at Bard in 66^th place with a time of 30:10. Quail placed 70^th with an official time of 30:39. 

Dermot O'Connor also competed and placed 101^st with a time of 35:19 and Martin Benoit placed 108^th with a time of 36:52.

The women's team closed out the day off with the running of the 5,000-meter championship course. The Vikings top runner was Olivia Skylstad, who finished 34^th overall with an official time of 23:20. Hickory Whelan and Eva Sgambettera were the next Vikings to cross the finish line as they did together in 38^th(23:54) and 39^th (23:56) place, respectively. 

Ellicia Swedish and Jessica Wank rounds out the team scoring for Hudson Valley. Swedish placed 51^stoverall with a time of 25:17 and Wank crossed the finish line in 54^th place with an official time of 25:31. Elizabeth Erno trailed the pack and placed 65^th overall with a time of 33:06.