CROSS COUNTRY NOTEBOOK
Vermont cross country returns to action on Saturday (Sep. 18) for the Pre-Conference Invitational hosted by New Hampshire. The event will preview the course for the America East Championships later this fall. Saturday's meet will begin with the women's 5k race at 12 p.m. The men's 8k will follow at 1 p.m. Results for the race can be found at LancerTiming.com.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Results
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We're looking forward to checking out the championship course we'll run in late fall, and to see quite a few of the other conference teams" said head coach Matt Belfield. "Not sure if everyone will show all their cards, but it will give us some things to focus on for sure."
 
THE FIELD
The Catamounts will face America East foes New Hampshire, UAlbany, NJIT, Maine, Binghamton, and Hartford. Defending conference champions UMass Lowell will not compete in the Pre-Conference meet. Stony Brook and UMBC have also opted to skip the preview race.
 
UVM WOMEN RANKED REGIONALLY
The Vermont women remain in the Northeast Regional rankings, conducted by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Catamounts sit in the No. 13 spot and are the third-highest America East school in the ranking.
 
LEIGHTON'S AWARD
UVM captain Jane Leighton was named America East Female Performer of the Week on September 8, for her victory in the season-opening meet in St. Albans. The senior set a blistering pace, winning by a margin of 17.7 seconds with a 5k time of 17:55.40.
 
THE WOMEN AT HARD'ACK
The Vermont women finished second in the team competition at the Vermont Invite, which was hosted at Hard'Ack Recreation Area. Led by Leighton, the Catamounts secured 42 points with help from Meaghan Alba who finished third (18:26.00). Andie Cornish (11th), Lindy Stadtlander (13th), and Clare Kelly (14th) rounded out the Vermont scorers in the season-opening meet.
 
DENIS LEADS THE MEN IN ST. ALBANS
Graduate student Ian Denis led the UVM men at the Vermont Invite as the Catamounts finished fourth in the team competition. Denis posted a time of 25:45.40 for ninth place overall. Christian Groff (12th) and Wyatt Matyas (19th) were also in the top 20. First year Will Scott (22nd) and junior Nathan Stine (26:36.40) rounded out the UVM scorers.
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FALL FOLIAGE INVITE
Vermont cross country will return to Hard'Ack Recreation Area in St. Albans for the Fall Foliage Invitational on October 16. The Saturday afternoon meet will be the Catamounts' final tune-up before the America East Championships on October 29.