UAlbany’s Cross Country Teams Shine at Hopkinton Fairgrounds
The UAlbany cross country teams delivered impressive performances during the Hopkinton Festival held at the Fairgrounds in Contoocook, New Hampshire. Competing against 12 teams, both the men’s and women’s squads secured second-place finishes in their respective events.
Event Overview
The men’s race covered an 8k distance, while the women’s race was 5k. The teams experienced fierce competition, with the women’s team finishing with a total of 47 points, and the men’s team scoring 61 points.
Highlights from the Races
- This event marked the first appearance of each runner at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.
- Freshmen Arianna Verardi and Owen Stachlik led their teams for the third consecutive race.
- Senior Hannah Steiner achieved her first top-10 finish in her collegiate career.
- The time difference among UAlbany’s top three men’s performers was a mere 40 milliseconds.
- The women registered a scoring gap of 1:21.08, while the men’s scoring gap was just 17.61 seconds.
- Adelphi claimed the top spot in the women’s team race with 42 points, and Babson led the men’s competition with a total of 39 points.
Women’s Race Details
The women took to the course first. Freshman Arianna Verardi led the UAlbany runners, achieving a commendable fourth-place finish with a time of 19:36.44. Senior Hannah Steiner followed closely, securing 10th place with a time of 20:17.4.
Freshman Aiva Pinches contributed to the team’s performance by finishing 12th overall at 20:27.07. Sophomore Cara Mastan continued her strong showing, finishing 15th with a time of 20:42.34, marking her second consecutive top-15 finish. Rounding out the scoring for the women was graduate student Jaymee Yelton, placing 23rd with a time of 20:57.52.
Men’s Race Details
The men’s race concluded the day’s collegiate competitions, with Owen Stachlik leading the pack. He finished the 8k in 25:59.46, claiming 13th place. Just behind him were junior Nikolas Christian (16th, 25:59.85) and sophomore Devin Finn (17th, 25:59.86)—both finishing nearly simultaneously. Sophomore Jerry Lewis completed the strong showing for UAlbany, finishing 18th at 26:06.89, while graduate student Gabriel Spanbauer rounded out the scoring team in 22nd place with a time of 26:17.07.
Looking Ahead
The UAlbany Great Danes are set to compete next at the ECAC/IC4A Championships, which will be held in one week at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City on Friday, October 17.
Stay connected to follow the latest updates, highlights, and insights into UAlbany’s cross country and track and field teams by checking out their profiles on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook.
