CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu or 518-629-7898/518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, October 23, 2021
The Hudson Valley Community College men's and women's cross country programs competed and won the 2021 Mountain Valley Conference Championships on Saturday morning in Johnstown, NY.
The women's team kicked off the championship events with the 5,000 meter race and earned five top-10 finishes on their way to win the team championship. Olivia Skylstad led the Vikings as the top finisher with a second place performance and an official time of 23:25. Skystad was one of six Vikings runners to place inside the top-12 in Saturday's championship race.
Eva Sgambettera was the next best finisher for the Vikings as she placed third with an official time of 24:33. Hickory Whelan finished fifth with a time of 25:20, while Jessica Wank placed seventh and posted a time of 26:06. Ellicia Swedish placed eighth with a time of 26:26 and Elizabeth Erno rounds out the Vikings scoring with a 12th place finish and a time of 32:10.
The men's team closed out the day with a championship of their own as they tackled the 8,000-meter race. The Vikings top runner was Shazim Permaul, who placed second overall with an official time of 28:16. Permaul led five Vikings inside the top-10 as everyone earned top-25 finishes during Saturday's championship race. Trevor Dzikowicz crossed the line in third place with a time of 29:28. Eric Zumpe finished fifth (30:39) and Garrick Smith-Growick crossed in seventh with a time of 32:09.
Jakob Quail rounds out the Vikings top-10 finishes with a ninth-place spot and a time of 33:17. Benjamin Bulan finished 11th with a time of 34:32 and Martin Benoit and Dermot O'Connor finished in 18th and 21stplace, respectively.
The cross country programs will continue their preparation for the championship circuit as they will now prepare for the upcoming NJCAA Region 3 Championships, hosted by Finger Lakes Community College on October 30 in Canandaigua, NY.