BY: PETER SZUMIGALA, SPORTS DEPARTMENT
On Saturday, the St. Bonaventure University men’s and women’s cross-country teams hosted the Little Three Championship, marking an exciting and strong start to the program’s season.
The Bonnies lined up against Canisius University and Niagara University in a 5k course (approximately 3.1 miles).
Several other Bonnies teams came out to support their fellow athletes, along with a strong following of friends, families, and students to watch and cheer on the runners. I had the chance to attend and watch the race, and one thing is certain — there is a bright future ahead for this team based on its performance in St. Bonaventure, New York.
Women’s highlights and results
The women’s team kicked off the day on Saturday morning, scoring a total of 43 points and placing 2nd overall in the event.
There were three Bonnies that finished in the top 10, including an outstanding performance from Jillian Lozo. The freshman recorded the only time under 19 minutes with an 18:58.7 mark for the Bonnies, placing 5th overall in her first collegiate race. If you’re not entirely familiar with cross-country or a 5k, her time met a six-minute, seven-second mile pace.
Immediately following Lozo were sophomore Miranda Habshi and senior Claire Cuneo, who placed 6h and 7th respectively with times of 19:01.8 and 19:02.1. Rounding out the scoring for the Bonnies were junior Elise Brooks, placing 12th overall with a time of 19:20.6, and senior Molly Gipson, placing 13th overall with a time of 19:27.0.
There were three more runners that finished inside the top 20 for the Bonnies. Freshman Sydney March placed 15th with a time of 19:30.2, junior Katelyn Wilkes placed 17th with a time of 19:39.5, and junior Kylie Paylor placed 19th with a time of 19:47.1. Three impressive performances as they all clocked times under 20 minutes.
Overall, the Lady Bonnies showed up and showed out for their first race of the season, and they are not stopping anytime soon.
Men’s highlights and results:
The men’s race followed shortly after the women’s, and this contest was just as exciting. The men scored a total of 39 points, placing them 2nd in the event as well, just behind Canisius.
However, history was made as supporters and coaches witnessed a record-breaking performance. Three Bonnies finished in the top 10- senior Clay Peets won the race, junior Will McCarthy placed 5th with a time of 15:12.8 and senior Casey Malloy placed 10th, running a solid 15:23.8.
Capping off the scoring spots were senior Ethan Luce and junior Nathan Sikorski, who finished in 11th and 12th respectively, just behind Malloy. Two more Bonnies, junior Joshua Lopez and freshman Declan McGrath, finished 13th and 14th.
Several others ran solid times, including multiple freshmen who ran their first collegiate race, getting their first glimpse of things they should expect to come.
Clay Peets crushes his own school record
Senior Clay Peets got out quickly in the race and never looked back. Highly anticipating this race and training relentlessly, he made a statement and put the Atlantic 10 Conference on notice.
Not only did Peets win the race, but he finished in front of the second-place runner by 16.6 seconds, and when it comes to any type of racing, whether it is motorsports or, as we are talking about, cross country, that feels like an eternity.
The senior had previously held the 5k school record for Bonaventure, and now he has set the bar higher, finishing the race on Saturday with a time of 14:28.0.
If you do not know how fast that is, that is an average pace of 4 minutes and 39 seconds a mile, so for those who are not familiar with long distance running or cross country, that is FAST.
Peets’ race also earned him the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Performer of the Week, capping off an all-around amazing day for the senior.
What’s next for the Bonnies Cross-Country Team?
Next up on the schedule for the Bonnies is the Lock Haven Invitational in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. The race will take place on September 27th, so the team has a break to recover and keep improving so they can achieve better times and prepare for longer distance races soon.
Stay tuned for more updates!
- Peter Szumigala ‘29, Bonnies Track & Field
- Instagram: @verified_peter
Full Little Three Championship race results:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/190292#resultSetId-580081;perpage:100
Bonnies XC/Track & Field Instagram: @bonniesxctrack
Photo Credits: St. Bonaventure University Athletics | Cross Country
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