Brandywine Women Run To First PSUAC Cross Country Title; Men Take Second

MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- For the first time in program history, the Penn State Brandywine women's cross country team is No. 1 in the PSUAC as the Lions ran to a first-place showing at the PSUAC Championship Meet Saturday afternoon in State College.

Brandywine will now compete as a team at the USCAA Championship for the second-straight season. They will be joined by three runners from the men's team who posted top-10 performances to qualify for the national championship meet.

The Brandywine women featured three all-conference performers during their championship run. Robyn Gannon (Lansdowne, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast) placed third overall in a time of 27:32, while Annie Mueller (Lincoln University, Pa./Homeschooled) was fifth with a 27:49 run during the 6K race. Jessica Powers (Morton, Pa./Ridley) claimed seventh in the 26-runner race, crossing the finish line in 29:36.

Amanda Isenberger placed eighth (29:53), while Kristen Hall (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) took 20th (34:36) to round out the women's team.

On the men's side, John Li (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), Alex Rivera-Santiago (New Castle, Del./Delcastle) and Sam Houlette (Chester Springs, Pa./Salesianum) claimed all-conference awards and will make the trip to Florida for the USCAA Championship.

Li was the Lions' top finisher during the 8K race, taking third (31:36), while Rivera-Santiago, who will run at nationals for the second consecutive year, was sixth with a time of 33:02. Houlette crossed the line 36 seconds following Rivera-Santiago to claim seventh.

Mario Miceli's (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) time of 34:16 was good for a 12th-place finish, while Kason Laventure (Lansdowne, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) ran to a time of 35:23, finishing 16th.

Penn State Greater Allegheny claimed the men's team crown with 29 points, 13 points better than Brandywine. The Lion women totaled 24 points to run away with the championship.

Brandywine's runner will have two weeks to prepare for nationals, which will be held in Lakeland, Fla., on Nov, 6.